Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Trinity

Chapter Six: The Pack

At the Sunnydale Zoo, Buffy walks alone, looking at the signs around her. 'Reptiles', 'Elephants', and the 'Hyena House'.

A gang of trouble making students, Kyle, Rhonda, Tor, and Heidi spot her.

"Oh, look. It's Buffy and all her friends." Kyle jeers.

"That's a witty." Buffy deadpans.

"Do you ever wonder why nobody cool wants to hang out with you?" Tor asks.

Buffy shrugs. "Just thankful."

"Were you this popular at your old school? Before you got kicked out?" Rhonda asks. The group laughs before continuing on their way.

"Careful! She might beat you up!" Tor sneers at Buffy as they walk away.

Buffy reads the elephant plaque when Willow and Xander run up to her.

"Hey!" Xander smiles. "Buffy!"

"You missed it!" Willow says.

Buffy looks at them. "Missed what?"

"We just saw the zebras mating!" Xander says, nodding to Willow. "Thank you, very exciting."

"It was like the Heimlich, with stripes!" Willow smiles.

"And I missed it." Buffy says in mock disappointment. "Yet somehow I'll find the courage to live on." She begins to walk away; Willow and Xander follow after her.

"Where were you?"

"Uh, I was looking at the fishes."

"Was it cool?"

"It was fishes."

"I'm feelin' that you're not in the field trip spirit here." Xander says.

"Well, it would...it's nothing." Buffy says. "I...we do the same zoo trip at my old school every year. Same old, same old."

"Buffy, this isn't just about looking at a bunch of animals. This is about not being in class!" He tells her.

Buffy smiles, her mood brightened. "You know, you're right! Suddenly the animals look shiny and new."

"Gotta have perspective."

Suddenly, Buffy looks around. "Where's Trinity? I thought she'd be with you guys."

Willow shakes her head. "Every time we come here, she takes off to the feline exhibits and stays there."

"Which considering what we know about her now, it kinda makes some sense." Xander says. "Do you think that she goes there to bond with her fellow cats?"

Trinity stares into the eyes of a lioness. She tilts her head a bit and the lioness mirrors her movement. The lioness yawns before settling on her front paws.

Nearby, a little girl stares longingly at the lions. "Mom, they're not moving!" She pouts.

"I'm sure they're just tired sweetie." The woman says.

Trinity glances at the girl before looking back to the lioness. A small grin forms on her face and she nods. The lioness stands up and runs to the others. The other lioness stand and pounce on each other, playing.

"Look mommy!" The girl smiles.

A boy; Lance, stands in front of the monkey exhibit. He glances down as he sketches the animals.

Kyle and the rest of his gang walk up to the boy. "Lance! How's it goin'?"

The boy looks up. "Hey, Kyle." He says nervously.