New Zoo (Original Series by Wallace111)

New-Zoo-Zebras

It was a relatively pleasant evening as two people, hand in hand, walked out of a nearby restaurant. They were each looking forward to spending the night with each other. They smiled at each other, basking in the warm glow of the moon in the night sky. They approached the nearby beach, noticing the calm waves.


They were Ian and Alaina. They had been happily married for the last seven years and parents to an adorable baby boy named Max. He had just turned four years old the previous week and they couldn't be more thrilled.


Nevertheless, sometimes Max could be a handful. Every once in a while, they needed some time to themselves. Fortunately, their close friend Jacob didn't have a shift tonight and he was happy to oblige by watching Max for one night so Ian and Alaina could have some fun.


"It sure was nice for Jacob to agree to watch Max, isn't it?" said Alaina, turning to her husband as her red hair glistened in the nearby moonlight. She looked lovingly into Ian's eyes, their love still as strong as ever as Ian returned her stare, smiling at his wife.


"It certainly is, he's always been a good friend" agreed Ian as he pulled his wife close in, the pair kissing under the moonlight as they embraced each other, truly enjoying the moment.


The pair broke as Alaina looked lovingly at her husband. She was beginning to feel a little needy as she noticed the beach.


"Follow me," said Alaina, her voice full of joy as her words were slightly slurred. She had had a bit too much to drink as Ian complied, feeling a similar feeling to his wife. To be fair, he was beginning to feel a little tipsy himself.


Despite their semi-drunken states, they both could sense what the other wanted as they eyed the lust in each other's eyes. They began to approach the beach, their pace quickening as the feeling of lust dominated their minds, the alcohol overriding their common sense about doing it in a public place.


"Alaina, should we really..." started Ian, being quickly interrupted by Alaina pulling her husband close to her.


"Just shut up and fuck me" commanded Alaina, chuckling a little as she saw Ian's face. Ian soon chuckled with his wife, the pair making quick preparations to strip back their clothes enough to allow their coupling to commence.


The pair could no longer resist each other as Ian returned to his wife, quickly finding his mark as Alaina moaned out, feeling euphoria wash over her as she felt her husband deep inside her.


The pair continued to go at it, the waves picking up as if in pace with their intercourse as they continued to moan out in pleasure.


After what felt like an eternity, Ian climaxed into Alaina. Alaina screamed out as the pleasure washed over her as Ian pulled out of her. The pair cuddled in post-coital bliss as they looked lovingly at each other.


"So...how do you think we should explain to Max that he might have a new sibling?" asked Alaina, smirking as she was resisting the urge to giggle.


"I was wondering how to explain this to Jacob" replied Ian, the pair finding the situation hilarious as they laughed with each other in the moonlight.


It was truly a night to remember.


Birthing a 'Miracle':
The hospital ward was pristine, with white tiles covering the walls as bright white lights shined down throughout the hallway. There were many doors down the sides of the ward, each one heading into a different room.


While the Hospital looked truly professional, for Max, it was a rather uncomfortable experience.


Max was currently sitting on a chair outside one of the doors within the ward. He pulled his legs up, feeling rather nervous amongst all the doctors and nurses rushing around the ward.


After all, he was still only four years old.


Fortunately, however, he was not alone. At his side, sat his best friend and godfather, Jacob. Jacob looked down at Max, still in uniform after rushing from a job to the Hospital.


"While I doubt my client will appreciate me leaving without notice...I couldn't miss this for the world" thought Jacob, feeling concerned over the financial ramifications of his decision.


After all, he could really use the money. However, as Jacob stared at his godson, he dismissed the thought, truly understanding how vulnerable Max was feeling at that moment. He placed his arm over his godson, trying to comfort him in his time of need.


"Hey buddy...you doing ok?" asked Jacob, his tone warm. He had a small smile on his face as he noticed Max turning to face him. Jacob could tell that Max was still very uncomfortable with being at the hospital.


Despite Max's attempt at a brave face...his eyes always gave him away.


"I'm...I'm just worried about mom" replied Max, knowing Jacob well enough not to hide his feelings. He turned away for a brief moment. "Is she...is she going to be ok?" asked Max, a small smile coming to his face as Jacob affectionately rubbed his back.


"She'll be fine" replied Jacob, his tone warm once more. "Just think about it" started Jacob, placing his arm over Max once again. "Soon enough, you'll have a new brother or sister to play with" continued Jacob, noticing Max turning away. "Max...what's bothering you?" asked Jacob, waiting patiently for Max as he sat back in his chair.


"I...will mom and dad still like me after the new baby is born?" asked Max, turning back towards Jacob. He had tears in his eyes as Jacob immediately felt concerned for his godson. He pulled Max into a hug, feeling Max's tears against his shirt.


But that was unimportant right now. What was important was comforting his godson.


Jacob let Max cry until he had no more tears to shed. As Max pulled away from Jacob, he eyed the warm expression of his godfather. Jacob then pulled Max into a hug as Max felt the warmth and affection calm him down.


"Max, your parents will still love you," said Jacob, his tone confident. "They'll always love you, and the new addition to the family will not make them love you less" continued Jacob, noticing Max smiling softly. "Believe me, I've known your parents for years, they absolutely adore you...as do I" finished Jacob, feeling Max's grip tighten around his waist.


Jacob smiled as he noticed what appeared to be a nurse approaching the pair. He nodded, indicating that it was ok for them to approach. She had light brown hair which was tied up. She was wearing a standard nurse uniform and also had a wide smile.


"They're ready whenever you are," said the nurse, smiling softly as she got a sight of Max. Jacob nodded as he looked down at Max who broke his hug.


"So...do you want to go and meet your new sibling?" asked Jacob, noticing Max still seemed rather nervous. Jacob smiled as he held out his hand, feeling Max grip it as the pair walked through the door.


As the pair entered, Max saw his mother. While tired and dazed, Alaina still had the same warm smile that Max adored as he approached his parents. Ian looked at Jacob who nodded at him before leaning up against a nearby wall.


"Mom?" asked Max, his wide brown eyes curious. "Are you ok?" asked Max, noticing his mother turning towards him. Alaina still had the same loving expression as she reached out, placing a small kiss on Max's forehead.


"Yes, Max...I'm doing...as well as can be...expected" replied Alaina, short of breath. She held her newborn in her arms, eyeing Max as she motioned him to come closer. "Max...I want you to...meet your new...sister" said Alaina, carefully passing over her newborn to Max as she made sure he had a sufficient grip before loosening her own.


As Max held his new sister in his hands, he couldn't help but feel nervous. His earlier insecurity seemed to be swelling within as he noticed her pristine skin and her small layer of blond hair.


However, when she opened her eyes, revealing them to be a light, purified blue, Max felt his insecurities just wash away. He smiled as he admired his new sister, falling in love with her immediately as he turned back to face his mother who was smiling softly.


"Wha...what's her name?" asked Max, the adults in the room smiling internally at Max's enthusiasm.


"Her name is Beth Max...your new sister," said Alaina, feeling overwhelmingly tired following giving birth. However, she couldn't help but smile as she noticed how well Max seemed to be taking the news.


The group watched, finding the sight adorable as Max stared back down at his newborn sister one last time.


"Hello Beth, I'm Max...your big brother," said Max, feeling joy within as he noticed Beth smiling. "I'll always protect you...for now and forever" continued Max, hugging his sister softly once more before finally passing Beth back to his mother.


It was truly a day to remember.




Present Day:
It seemed almost like yesterday as Ian checked the date of his newspaper, wondering where the time had gone.


Max had grown up, now a fourteen-year-old adolescent, heading to the local high school with his friends. Ian smiled as Max was growing into a mature young man, although he could still be a bit of a handful sometimes. He had developed a bit of attitude, however, Ian could still recognise his son under it all, knowing he was a good boy.


"Just like he used to be" thought Ian as he chuckled, remembering Max's early years as he reflected on his own, remembering back to the 'night of passion' he and Alaina had enjoyed on the beach.


Ian smiled as he thought back to his second child. A product of their 'night of passion,' Beth had remained a joyous spark of optimism within their lives even if she occasionally annoyed her brother. She was currently enrolled at the nearby local elementary and, from what he remembered, was very popular amongst her teachers and peers alike.


She was also well-loved by her family. As a result, Beth was a confident, happy little girl who enjoyed spending her time with her family as much as her peers. She had even taken up an interest in baking which had proven to be a great bonding activity for her and his wife.


Ian chuckled as he recalled the 'fruits of their labour' still in the fridge even days later. Together, Beth and Alaina had made a mango cake over the weekend which he knew that Beth, given her love of mangos, was intent on finishing later that night.


"Oh, how I envy her metabolism," thought Ian playfully, chuckling once more. However, as his thoughts began to drift towards his health...and his wife's concern...the chuckling stopped in favour of introspective thought.


Overall, Ian and Alaina had aged gracefully, barely changing over the last ten years since the 'night of passion' as they had maintained their shape and health. However, Ian could feel his age beginning to catch up to him as he brushed the thoughts from his mind.


"I'm sure it's nothing serious," thought Ian, recalling how Alaina had tried to convince him to go to the doctors, at least for her peace of mind. To that end, he had booked an appointment for next week, although he had convinced himself that there was no reason to be concerned.


"Still...I love my wife too much to leave her afraid," said Ian. Speaking of his wife, Alaina had just taken the children to school before going to work herself. Ian would be heading off shortly himself following his breakfast.


He returned his attention to his newspaper. He checked the front page as he noticed the article was regarding the New Zoo that had recently opened in town.


"Well it's about time," said Ian, skimming the rest of the article as it mentioned the efforts of the Managers and their plans to acquire many exotic animals for the public to witness.


Ian recalled how the Zoo had been announced shortly after their night of passion. For years, he was convinced that the Zoo would never open. Construction appeared to stop and start at random intervals. It was only a few months ago when construction was finally announced to have been completed.


"Still...I guess it's a great opportunity for us as a family" thought Ian as he smiled, feeling excited that his family would soon have something new to do together. His thoughts then drifted to his best friend.


"I guess Jacob should be happy, his security contract with the Zoo should result in a large payout," said Ian. "Speaking of which, Jacob should have messaged by now?" wondered Ian as he tried to think back to when he had seen Jacob last. It seemed too long ago as Ian was beginning to feel rather concerned for his friend.


"I guess he's just been too busy...it would still be nice though. The kids certainly miss him" said Ian, his tone hopeful as he heard the sound of mail through his letterbox.


Ian walked towards his front door, picking up the mail as he searched through the pile. To his surprise, he noticed a letter with a unique appearance as he pulled it from the pile, intending to inspect it further.


He opened the envelope and investigated its contents. He was surprised to see what appeared to be a letter. As he skimmed it, he noticed the letterhead indicated that it had originated from the New Zoo.


"Huh? surprised that they wrote to us," thought Ian as he looked to the bottom of the letter, noticing something was attached to it.


It was a set of free passes to come for a free tour of the New Zoo. Ian was momentarily confused, wondering how they knew to send four passes. However, his confusion was superseded by a small sense of excitement. He realised that he might be able to catch up with Jacob as well as spend time with his family.


"Now there's an idea," thought Ian as he looked at the nearby clock, indicating that it was time for him to head to work.


He placed the letter on the table, fully intending to suggest his idea to his family upon his return. For now, however, he opened the front door, closing it behind him as he locked it.


He walked to his car, getting inside as he started the ignition. He began to drive away from his house to his job as his thoughts returned to Jacob once more.


"I wonder how Jacob has been, maybe finally got a girlfriend? " wondered Ian, recalling that Jacob had always struggled with relationships.


"I don't see why women don't seem interested...especially given how good he is with Max and Beth" continued Ian, finding himself at a loss as he felt his concern for his friend returning.


Still, if everything worked out, he would have his answers soon.


Hours Later:
Ian walked through the front door, spent after a long day as he looked around, noticing Max's skateboard as he assumed that his wife and children had returned. After all, it was Alaina's turn to pick up Beth from school today.


"Welcome home honey," said Alaina, welcoming her husband as she hugged him. Ian noticed the red shirt she was wearing alongside red jogging bottoms that complimented her hair beautifully.


"I guess you've already gone for your run?" asked Ian as Alaina looked up at him, nodding before moving in for a kiss which Ian accepted as the pair enjoyed each other's embrace.


"Good to see that you've still not shy about your love for each other," said Max, his tone filled with sarcasm as he chuckled slightly. Max sat down on a nearby chair and quickly returned his attention to his phone as Ian looked over his son.


"How was your day Max?" asked Ian, his son taking his eyes off his phone as he looked at his father. He shifted his blond hair out of his eyes as he considered his response.


"He's been busy with his girlfriend...again" interrupted Beth, her curious eyes holding back mischief as she smiled. She was wearing a plain white dress. It came down to her knees as she also had blond hair like Max. However, Beth's main standout feature was her light blue eyes which had only brightened further with optimism ever since she was born.


A product of a recessive gene from her parents, it made Beth feel unique against her family's varying shades of brown. It also reinforced her reputation as her parent's 'little miracle.'


"Anastasia is not my girlfriend!" said Max defensively as Beth couldn't help but giggle. She had always enjoyed playfully teasing her brother.


"Anastasia? Weren't you two working together on a project a few weeks ago?" asked Alaina curiously.


"Yes" admitted Max, feeling awkward at the situation. "I don't know, I just feel uncomfortable around her. She's just so...weird."


"That's a shame, she seemed rather nice to me," said Beth, looking up at her brother and, upon seeing his face, decided to drop the matter.


It was at that point that Beth headed to the fridge. She opened the door, eyeing the last remnant of mango cake as she licked her lips in anticipation.


"No sweets before dinner Beth," said Alaina, fully aware of her daughter's intentions. She maintained her usual motherly tone, knowing already that Beth wouldn't follow through on eating the leftover mango cake...yet.


Beth nodded in understanding, eyeing the cake once last time as she pulled away from the fridge.


"You win this round cake," thought Beth playfully. She closed the fridge door behind her, walking back towards Max seated at the dining table. "But next time...you're mine" finished Beth, cackling internally like a mad supervillain who wouldn't be out of place on the cartoons at the weekend she enjoyed watching with her brother.


Speaking of her brother...


"Sooooo...when are you going to ask Anastasia out?" asked Beth, eyeing her brother mischievously. She noticed him blush, giggling softly as she hugged him affectionately. Knowing her brother, she hoped that the hug would indicate to him that her teasing was all in good fun.


Meanwhile, Ian, noticing the awkwardness his son was feeling, decided to change the subject.


"I found something interesting in the mail today," said Ian, getting his family's attention as they stared at him. "I noticed that the New Zoo that's opening up sent us some free passes in the mail. Therefore, I figured we could visit the Zoo over the weekend together" finished Ian as he awaited the reactions from his family.


"I like the idea," said Alaina, looking over at their children. Beth seemed rather excited at the proposal while Max seemed indifferent.


"I guess it could be fun," said Max, shrugging his shoulders as he smiled at his sister's enthusiasm. Deep down, he truly was looking forward to it but couldn't help but feel that his father had some ulterior motive.


"I mean...could it have something to do with Jacob?" thought Max, recalling how his godfather had gotten a contract with the New Zoo recently. "Could Dad be worried about him not responding to our messages?" wondered Max, feeling his own concern growing for Jacob.


After all, Jacob was Max's role model.


"Then it's settled, we'll go over the weekend" declared Ian as the family seemed rather happy about his proposal.


"Ok children, can you leave me with your father for a moment?" said Alaina as Max nodded, standing up from the chair he had been sitting on as he left the kitchen. Beth followed her brother, planning to spend some time with him before dinner.


Soon, the pair were left alone in the kitchen as Alaina looked at Ian.


"I guess this is also about Jacob?" said Alaina directly, seeing little point in skirting around the issue.


Ian stared at his wife, seeing the look in her eyes. "Yes, I'm just concerned about him, I just want to make sure he's ok," said Ian as Alaina looked at him sympathetically.


"I'm sure he's ok...but if it'll put you at ease" replied Alaina. "Perhaps he finally got a girlfriend" she suggested jokily. This seemed to have the intended effect as Ian seemed to brighten up a little.


"Now I remember why I will always love you," said Ian as he pulled his wife in for another kiss, Alaina accepting it eagerly as the pair embraced once more.


However, all good things must come to an end as Alaina broke the embrace and looked up to her husband. "We should get dinner started, you know how cranky Beth can get when deprived of dessert...especially when mangos are involved," said Alaina, chuckling softly as Ian agreed.


Soon, the pair were preparing dinner for the household as they enjoyed each other's company. Ian pushed his doubts out of his mind, realising he would hopefully have the answers he desired.


Ian would make the necessary arrangements tomorrow.


On the Fateful Day:
The family walked under the stone archways as they entered the New Zoo. They began to walk down the Main Hallway as they looked around, noticing the Zoo appeared rather empty.


"This is...certainly more empty than I expected" admitted Ian as the family continued to walk through. Alaina and Ian walked hand in hand as they eventually discovered an enclosure that wasn't empty nor too far from the entrance.


The family looked inside the enclosure. They were intrigued as they noticed a gorilla within the enclosure. He swung on his tire and munched on a few bananas before finally realising it had company.


Max seemed disinterested as the Gorilla looked at the group intently, returning his attention to his phone as Beth chuckled, clearly enjoying herself and already looking forward to subsequent visits to the Zoo.


Ian and Alaina watched the Gorilla. For some reason they didn't understand, they began to feel a sense of familiarity as they stared at the Gorilla more.


"This is weird," thought Ian and Alaina as they felt a strange feeling forming in their stomachs. They eventually turned away, feeling a sense of discomfort and fear for themselves and their children.


Something felt wrong!


However, before they could think of what to do next, they saw someone approaching the family. She was wearing what appeared to be a zoo uniform as Ian and Alaina guessed she was management. She was of medium height as her black hair went down to her back.


"Hello, you must be the Cullens?" said the woman, noticing the odd stares she was receiving. "Oh I'm sorry, where are my manners?" continued the woman, not allowing the family to get a word in edgewise. "My name's Rebecca and I hope you enjoy your time here today."


Ian looked at Rebecca as he was confused about what to say. Rebecca seemed rather excited about something and that...made him feel uneasy.


"You seem a bit on edge," said Rebecca, noticing Ian's expression as Alaina felt uneasy having this woman near her children. "How about I give you a sneak preview of one of our enclosures to put you at ease?."


Ian considered this as he asked "Is Jacob here? I heard he did some work for the Zoo recently and I'm just a bit concerned."


Rebecca could feel a plan coming together in her head as she smiled softly, trying to put the parents at ease. "Yes, he's here helping us set up cameras in the enclosures" lied Rebecca. "He's rather busy right now but I can let you see him after the sneak preview" offered Rebecca, noticing Ian's immediate change in expression.


"That would be good," said Ian, accepting the arrangement. While Alaina was still uneasy regarding the situation, she kept quiet for her husband's sake. She knew how important this was to him as Rebecca began to walk away, motioning for the family to follow.


"Perfect, soon we'll have some new additions," thought Rebecca who smiled widely for a brief moment, feeling truly excited as she approached a nearby enclosure.


"Ok, here we are" announced Rebecca, gaining the family's attention as they looked at the door to the enclosure. The label on the door indicated that the enclosure was intended for zebras.


"Zebras?" thought Max, finding this situation getting stranger as he began to feel uneasy about this situation. He kept Beth close to him, just in case something went amiss.


"Ok, now go inside and get yourselves climatised with the Zebras while I go find Jacob," said Rebecca, noticing the family nodding as Rebecca opened the door, allowing the family to walk inside the enclosure. Beth was rather excited to be able to interact with the Zebras and was becoming rather fidgety at her brother's attempts to hold her back.


The family looked around the enclosure as they entered. It was a grassland environment that had been modelled to look like a wide field. The enclosure stretched out for what seemed like miles as it was very, very wide. There was also a large tree that would allow shade from the sun and a stream that indicated where the animals would drink from.


"Where are the zebras?" asked Beth curiously, looking around the enclosure as the family couldn't find a single zebra. The enclosure was completely devoid of animals.


Before they could react, they heard a sudden 'BANG' as they heard the door to the enclosure closing. A small 'lock' sound was also heard, indicating to the family that they were locked inside the enclosure.


Alaina headed to the door, trying to force it open to no avail. She stopped as she noticed Rebecca observing the family from the outside of the enclosure.


"What is the meaning of this? why are we locked in?" asked Alaina, demanding an explanation as Rebecca appeared to be resisting the urge to laugh.


"Well I can't allow my new zebras to wander the zoo unsupervised" stated Rebecca as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.


"Wait...what?" said Max, his tone confused as he was trying to comprehend what was going on.


"Simply...you are all going to be new additions to my Zoo. Although you won't be able to comprehend being anything but soon" explained Rebecca.


"This isn't funny, let us out!" demanded Ian, feeling a sense of panic come over him as the realisation of him endangering his family began to settle in.


"Sorry but I cannot let animals out of their cages, but don't worry, I'll be back soon to remove the scraps of clothing and anything else you no longer need. Until then...ta" finished Rebecca as she waved condescendingly, leaving the family trapped within the enclosure.


"Now time to get into position," thought Rebecca, happy that she had set up the best vantage point in advance, having already positioned her camcorder. A small sense of frustration crossed her mind since, in hindsight, it might have been best to allow Jacob to set up the cameras before adding him to the Zoo.


The Family was trapped in the enclosure, trying not to let panic overwhelm them as they tried to stay calm.


However, Beth couldn't hold in her panic as she quickly loosened from her brother's grip and ran further into the enclosure.


"Beth, wait!" shouted Max, trying to get his sister to stop but to no avail.


"Max, check your phone," said Alaina as Max complied with his mother, noticing there was no signal.


"There's no signal from within here" replied Max as Alaina sighed in annoyance.


"I guess we should split up, see if there's a way out," said Alaina, looking at Ian who nodded in response. She turned to face Max before saying "go and find your sister, we need her to be with us encase we find a way out."


Max nodded as he began to leave in the general direction that Beth had run off in as Alaina turned to face her husband once more.


"Do you really think we'll turn into Zebras?" said Ian, finding it difficult to comprehend any sense from the sentence.


"Not a chance, Rebecca, was it?. She's obviously insane" replied Alaina. "But for now, we should focus on getting out of here" finished Alaina, leaving no room for argument as she went in one direction of the enclosure.


Ian headed in the opposite direction, hoping to find a way out of this trap.


Little did they know, there was no escape from their fate.


Within the Enclosure:
Beth stopped running as she bent down, catching her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. She was truly afraid of the situation that she, and her family had found themselves in.


"This...she...she's crazy!" thought Beth, recalling the cartoons she enjoyed with her brother. "I...I didn't think that people like the villains in those cartoons actually exist" said Beth, still trying to calm her panic as she was desperately trying to think of some way, any way to escape!


However, as Beth's mind continued to wander, her eyes widened with realisation.


"Wait...those villains...they always get defeated by the end of the episode" said Beth, a small, hopeful smile coming to her face. "Yes, we're not trapped here...we'll overcome it just like the heroes always do" continued Beth, feeling a boost in confidence as she began to calm down.


However, this then led Beth to her current predicament as she began to have second thoughts about running off.


"Maybe I shouldn't have done that, they're probably worried sick," said Beth as she looked around, trying to see if she could see any signs of her family.


Her expression turned disappointed as she couldn't see any sign of them. Surely she hadn't run that far away.


"Maybe I should retrace my steps, I'm sure I'll find someone soon," thought Beth, agreeing internally as she began to head back the way she came.


As she did so, she began to feel strange inside. Unknown to her, the magic of the enclosure was seeping into her.


Beth first felt cramping in her feet as the discomfort soon became too much to bear. She bent down, trying to undo the buckles as the cramping only got worse as she did so.


She was so focused on unfastening her shoes, that Beth failed to notice that her ears began to pull out, getting larger as Beth's attention was fully focused on freeing her feet from her shoes.


"Why is this happening all of a sudden?" thought Beth, confusion sweeping over her being as she tried to make sense of why her shoes were now so uncomfortable.


She soon got her answer as the material tore apart, revealing Beth's feet as she gasped, unable to comprehend what was happening.


"Hooves?" mumbled Beth, shock emerging from within as she stared at the dainty little hooves that had once been her feet. She felt panic come over her once more as she realised what was happening.


"We're becoming the exhibit?" said Beth, barely suppressing her panic as she could notice something upright above her. She reached out curiously with her hands, feeling what she knew were her ears.


"My ears have changed too?" thought Beth as she could feel further sensations come over her. She looked at her hands as she felt them beginning to cramp.


Beth could only watch as her fingers began to forcefully move together, merging as they became a solid chunk. She saw the transformation mirror in both hands as they began to harden, turning black as Beth realised that she now had a pair of hooves like her feet as she could only stare at them in fear.


"No," thought Beth, feeling further changes beginning to occur. She felt tears come to her eyes as she tried to force herself up, barely retaining her balance as she looked around, trying to find anyone to help her.


"MAX!" screamed Beth, tears streaking down her face as she was no longer able to keep her balance. She fell to all fours, finding herself unable to get up. She began to feel itchy as she guessed that her stripes were growing in.


Elsewhere, Max had heard his sister's scream and looked towards the origin of the scream.


"Hold on Beth, I'm coming," thought Max, heading in the direction of his sister's scream.


He hoped he wasn't too late.


Meanwhile, Beth could feel her skin growing rough. Hide was forming as she could feel it alongside the itchiness as her fur pushed against the dress she had worn.


Eventually, her clothes couldn't hold back the pressure as they began to tear. Every seam and stitch busting as the clothes eventually tore from her body. Fortunately, her fur had fully grown in, presenting her unique combination of black and white stripes to any future patron of the Zoo.


"I don't want to be an animal" mumbled Beth, tears still falling as she felt something growing from her rear. She knew this was her tail which flailed around, mirroring her desperation as she felt it grow to its proper length, a small tuft at the end.


As Beth felt her tail behind her, she realised that the only thing which was still human was her face. She felt her identity begin to shift and change, not realising the changes were affecting her mind.


"Wait..why am I afraid?" thought Beth, thoughts shifting as memories of being human began to fade from her mind. As they did, the changes began to affect her face, causing it to shift and change.


She felt her face begin to push out into a muzzle, her teeth shifting to match her new herbivore diet as they flattened out, a few incisors remaining. Her blond hair fell from her head as a new bristly, black and white mane took its place. Her eyes darkened, sealing her change as the new foal looked around.


It could smell the aroma of the grass as Beth bent her head down to graze, her changes completing themselves.


Rebecca looked over the footage she had gathered from her spot as she smiled.


"Excellent, I hope the other additions are entertaining like Beth was," said Rebecca as she kept her focus on Beth, anticipating her brother would have heard her scream earlier.


Meanwhile:
Max had continued to walk where he presumed his sister's scream had originated from. He looked around, feeling a small sense of panic over him as his concern for his sister only grew.


"Beth? where are you?" called out Max as he continued to look around. To his surprise, he saw something he hadn't expected to see.


He saw a small zebra foal.


"So they already have zebras?" thought Max, confused as he bent down, giving the foal a small pet which it appeared to approve of.


Max looked at the foal, continuing to stroke its mane.


"Any idea where my sister went?" asked Max to the foal, chuckling slightly as he was not expecting a response. However, the chuckle died in his throat as he noticed something behind the foal.


"Wait...is that?" said Max, noticing what appeared to be scraps of clothing. He felt a thought enter his mind.


"No, that's impossible," thought Max, struggling to think of any other option. "Is it?" mumbled Max, barely having time to react as he felt something clamp down on his hand.


"Agh!" shouted Max, turning to see the foal had bitten down on his hand. He managed to pry it free as he checked the hand for injuries, hoping it hadn't become infected.


As he stared, he could feel goosebumps within his hand. It felt tingly as unknown to Max, his changes were beginning.


"What's going on?" mumbled Max as he continued to stare at his bitten hand. The fingers began to feel stiff. He felt feeling fade from them as he felt his concern increase.


"I think it's infected," thought Max, looking around the enclosure. He hoped to find his sister as his hand continued to ache. The fingers were beginning to fuse, hardening around a hard black coating as his new hoof formed.


Max continued to look around, oblivious to his new hoof as unknown to him, more changes were occurring. He felt an enticing aroma waft over his nose. He looked around, trying to find what it was, his quest to find his sister momentarily forgotten.


"What is that smell?" thought Max as he looked down, eying the grass as the scent got stronger. Max could feel unusual instincts within him, encouraging him to try it.


Max bent down, too distracted by the scent to notice his new hoof as he considered how to get the grass.


A new instinct caused him to bend his head down as he slowly started to graze. His teeth began to change, flattening as Max kept chewing the grass. It was becoming increasingly easier to graze as Max continued to eat.


Max, distracted by his grazing, felt something pushing from his rear. It caused a minor bit of discomfort until it burst out of his rear, ripping his shorts a little as his new tail formed, a black tassel of fur at the end as Max continued to remain oblivious to the changes occurring across his body.


Elsewhere, Rebecca was watching Max curiously, a small sense of confusion as she couldn't help but chuckle.


"How can he be this oblivious? Honestly, I expected this from his sister" thought Rebecca as she filmed the boy carefully, slowly adjusting the angle of her shot, desiring to capture every moment of his change.


As Max finished grazing, he felt his senses return to him. He blinked a few times, confused as he felt blades of grass near his mouth.


"What did I just do?" mumbled Max, noticing a loose patch of grass fall from near his lips. "Did I just eat grass?" thought Max, feeling even more confused.


That is until he caught sight of his new hoof.


"Wait, I have a hoof!" said Max, his tone increasing in panic as he looked at the zebra foal that was currently watching him curiously.


"Beth?" called out Max, not getting a response from the foal. However, between his changes and the scraps of clothing scattered nearby, Max could tell that the foal was his sister.


He crawled closer towards the foal who remained still as he gripped her in a hug. The foal accepted this affection, sensing a connection between itself and this strange creature as Max wept quietly.


As Max ran his hand through Beth's fur, he could feel changes coming over him. His hand began to thicken up, mirroring his hoof as he soon had a full pair of front hooves where his arms used to be.


"I'm sorry Beth, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you," said Max, continuing to cry softly into Beth's fur as he failed to realise that more changes were passing into him.


His tail was moving around as Max could feel changes coming over his face. It began to push out, beginning the formation of a muzzle as his nostrils enlarged, causing the scent of the grass to become stronger.


Max's skin began to get rougher, forming hide as his new stripes began to form, a unique pattern forming as he continued to cradle his sister.


It was only when he felt his body beginning to shift did he break the hug with his sister. His ribs began to push out, his legs shifting as they bent back into hocks as he realised his posture was changing.


"Wait...how much have I changed?" thought Max in a panic as he tried to stand up, barely keeping his balance as he looked around, trying to find his parents to no avail.


"I can only hope they found a way to escape" prayed Max as his clothes felt rather tight. He attempted to walk as his feet cramped up, Max realising he would soon have a pair of hooves like his hands as his clothes tightened up.


As Max tried to walk away, he felt a sudden 'CRACK' in his back as he found himself forced to all fours. His already tight clothes tore from his body as they fell to the ground.


Max looked around his new body, a rather difficult thing to do due to his changed form as he realised he was almost a complete zebra. He felt the familiar instincts from earlier begin to take root in his mind as he tried to resist.


"No, please, make it staaaaaawp" brayed Max, realising he had just brayed for the first time as he was in a state of shock. This allowed the instincts to take deeper root in his mind as his eyes began to darken, the final changes coming over his face.


He wept as his blond hair began to fall from his head as his new mane grew to take its place, attaching to his skin as it appeared like a mohawk to the changing boy. His ears began to lengthen out, shifting upright as Max could feel his sense of hearing increase. However, he barely paid attention to this as his changes continued to wash over his face.


His face began to shift, his muzzle stretching out to a proper zebra size as the fur continued to spread across his face. Max's eyes darkened further as his tears stopped, feeling a sense of calm come over him.


That was enough for the floodgates to come loose, any resistance Max had faded as his eyes fully darkened, cementing his change as a new adolescent zebra as he let out a full bray for the first time. It was as if he was signalling his new form to the world.


Max looked around, blinking as it looked at the scraps of clothing on the floor. He struggled to make sense of them, no longer being able to comprehend that they were his only moments before.


He felt his new instincts take hold as the grass smelled wonderful as he bent his head down to graze, intent on enjoying its meal.


Beth noticed the new zebra and, recognising it as her brother, her protector, headed towards him. She bent her head down and grazed alongside her brother.


The pair felt safe as herd instincts began to take control of the pair as they grazed together, content.


Elsewhere:
Alaina was looking around, trying to find a way out as she felt a sense of concern regarding her children. She reached into her pocket, pulling out her phone and tried to dial. Upon no response, she checked her phone, quickly recalling Max's attempt earlier.


"Right, no signal," said Alaina as she grumbled slightly, feeling a tingling across her body which she attributed to her nerves.


"This is feeling truly bizarre," thought Alaina as she began to feel tingling around her scalp as she proceeded to scratch what she assumed was an itch.


As she scratched, she noticed something falling to the ground. One soon became many as she looked in shock, recognising her hair was falling out as she was at a loss for words.


As she stared at her discarded hair, she felt new hair begin to form around her scalp which baffled the woman. Alaina managed to reach back towards the newly growing hair.


She followed the hair along her scalp, confused as it seemed to be in a mohawk shape as she tugged on it, wincing as she confirmed it was connected to her. She could feel a tingling in her hands which she ignored for the time being.


"I've got to get a look at myself," thought Alaina as she eyed a nearby stream as she quickly ran towards it, bending down to get a better look.


Her blood ran cold as she got a full view of her new black and white mane.


"Wait...is that a zebra mane?" was the only thing Alaina could say as her brain seemed to freeze. She felt unable to deal with the situation as she felt tears come to her eyes, barely holding them back.


She ran her hands through the water, splashing some against her face. She hoped that she was just seeing things but despite her efforts, the same image remained.


The tingling in her hands worsened as she looked at them. She could feel her fingers harden as they merged, quickly forming a new pair of hooves as hard black keratin coated them. A quick realisation came over Alaina as she found herself struggling to reconcile what she was witnessing.


"Rebecca...was telling the truth?" mumbled Alaina, still trying to make sense of the situation. She tried to deny that she was on her way to becoming a zebra mare but found that her body was disagreeing with her.


As Alaina tried to compose herself, she could feel a new thought enter her mind. She tried to resist it but found herself unable to focus on anything else.


Her mind was desiring a mate, a nice strong zebra stallion as Alaina felt her body shifting, focusing particularly on her privates and breasts as if they were responding to her sexual thoughts.


"Oh...oh fuck" moaned Alaina, struggling to think straight as she felt her breasts migrating down her body. She could feel the formation of equine udders between her legs as she had to move her legs further apart due to them squeezing her new udder.


Alaina felt the next change occurring in her genitalia, feeling it widen. She moaned as it began to shift, just below her rear as she could feel something pushing.


Alaina couldn't help but moan in pleasure, lustful feelings overwhelming her core.


"I haven't felt like this since...that night of passion" admitted Alaina as she felt her tail stretching out, pushing against her trousers but not strong enough to break free.


The discomfort was soon too much as Alaina stripped her trousers off, allowing her new zebra tail some much-needed freedom as she could feel the cool zoo air against her new vagina.


"Stop it," said Alaina, slapping herself lightly to try and distract her mind from the lustful thoughts she was feeling. Unfortunately, it didn't work as she felt heat in her new vagina, realising she was in estrus.


It was at this point that Alaina truly felt like an animal as she found her new need in her rear overwhelming her. She needed to be with her mate, husband, mate. Her mind flittered between the one she knew was right and the one she felt was right.


"I need to find Ian," said Alaina, struggling to think straight with the heat between her legs as she got up, running in no particular direction to try and find her husband.


To try and find her mate!


Currently:
Ian was looking around the enclosure, trying hard to find an exit from the trap that he had brought his family to. His eyes quickly darted from area to area, trying to find any possible means of escape.


"How...how could I be so careless?" wondered Ian, struggling to suppress the panic building within. While he doubted Rebecca's words from earlier, he realised that being trapped with someone so clearly insane wasn't good for him or his family.


He definitely owed his family an apology once they got out...if they got out.


"No...don't think like that," thought Ian, his mind beginning to succumb to panic as he continued to look around. "I have to get us out," thought Ian, trying to keep calm as he remained oblivious to the sensations that were spreading across his body. Ian continued to try and find an escape route as the sensations increased, becoming impossible to ignore.


"What's going on?" wondered Ian, noticing the sensation seemed to be focusing on his lower body, particularly his legs. He could feel them swelling, becoming thick with equine muscle as they felt increasingly tight around his trousers.


Eventually, his trousers couldn't hold his swelling legs as they tore, snapping as scraps of clothing fell to the floor as Ian looked down at his legs. He felt a sense of confusion come over him as he noticed his legs were rather animal-like.


"Wait...am I turning into an animal?!" said Ian, his mind hazing as he recalled how Jacob had also been here. "Does that mean Jacob was also a victim here?" thought Ian as his thoughts soon became clouded.


"Wait...why do I feel horny all of a sudden?" thought Ian as his thoughts became dominated by the instinct to mate. The desire to claim a zebra mare as his own as something began to heat up in his loins.


Ian felt his cock elongate as it began to push against his underwear. Ian was surprised that his underwear had stayed on due to the changes to his lower body. He could feel his cock lengthening, gaining girth as it stretched his underwear.


"I haven't felt like this since...the night of passion," thought Ian, smiling despite his predicament as the memories of that wonderful evening began to play out in his mind.


Meanwhile, Ian's underwear had snapped, forcing Ian's new cock outwards as his thoughts soon became distracted by zebra mares, of getting a mate.


Ian shook his head, momentarily clearing the thoughts from his mind. This caused his new zebra cock to begin to withdraw. It moved into a sheath attached to his body as the sensations moved towards his feet.


"My feet?" thought Ian as he noticed them crunching together. They forcefully stuck together as hard keratin coated them, soon reducing his feet into new rear hooves for the developing zebra stallion.


Ian was distracted by his new hooves, finding it increasingly difficult to keep his balance. He felt something waft against his nose, his cock emerging from its sheath as it smelled so good to him. His nostrils began to expand as he took in more of the scent, beginning the early formation of a muzzle.


A mare was nearby as Ian could feel his developing stallion instincts begin to overwhelm his mind.


Alaina had managed to get sight of what appeared to be her husband as she approached him. The feeling in her genitals was overwhelming and she needed to be pleasured.


Just like all those years ago.


"Ian!" called out Alaina, trying to get her husband's attention as Ian turned towards the sound. She ran towards him, wrapping her arms around him as Ian accepted her embrace, feeling his wife's tears against his skin.


"Ian, what's happening to us? Where are the kids?" said Alaina, calming her breathing as she captured her husband's scent. It smelled so good to her as she tried to suppress the feeling in her genitals.


"I don't know" was the only thing Ian could muster as the scent of his wife was beginning to drive his developing instincts crazy. One look at Alaina could confirm that she felt the same.


"I hope they're ok," said Alaina, hoping that Max had found Beth and they'd managed to escape together. "Even if not, we'll all be one big happy family" admitted Alaina as the feeling in her genitals had become unbearable.


"What do you mean?" asked Ian, struggling to hold back his instincts as Alaina turned away from him. The sight of her animal vagina was sending his mind into overdrive.


"Just shut up and fuck me" commanded Alaina, presenting herself to her husband as she moved her tail out of the way. She noticed his cock coming free from its sheath. She felt herself tremble as she imagined it deep inside her, her mind soon becoming dominated by her developing mare instincts.


She didn't have much time to react as she felt Ian place his hands on her back for support as he tried to make his mark. He skimmed her vagina as she moaned out in pleasure, feeling a tingling in her feet.


Alaina barely noticed as her feet began to shift, hardening as they soon became a pair of hooves like her hands. She clopped them on the ground absentmindedly until her mind was distracted as Ian found his mark.


Ian's new zebra cock plunged deep into Alaina as she found herself being pushed to the ground. She reached out with her arms which had lengthened out to match her legs. She was standing comfortably on all fours as she felt Ian begin to thrust, more sensations coming over her with every thrust as she was literally being fucked into animalhood.


She felt her skin thicken up, turning into hide as fur began to grow from it. She barely got a view of her developing stripes as the pleasure was too great. She could feel her back locking her into the position she was in, forever binding her to all fours as her chest tingled.


Her chest began to broaden, her body piling on equine muscle as her top was pushed to its limit, tearing apart on the ground as her body proportions became truly animalistic. She could feel a shifting in her vocals as the fur continued to spread across her body, soon leaving her face as the sole remaining human feature.


"This is so gaaaawd" moaned Alaina, brays mixing in with her voice as she could barely turn back, noticing Ian was also changing alongside her.


Fur had spread across Ian's entire lower body as the changes proceeded to move up to his upper body. He could feel his hands thicken up, hardening into hooves like his feet as he continued to thrust. His instincts were overwhelming, filling him with euphoria. The cartilage of his ears began to loosen, shifting upright as his new ears formed, enabling him to pick up the sounds of a few other zebras...his offspring within the enclosure.


"Wait my...offspring?" thought Ian as he could feel a tingling in her chest, realising it was next to change. The stallion instincts were beginning to take permanent root in Ian's mind, pushing out the memories of ever being human.


Ian's chest barrelled out into stallion proportions as his shirt broke loose. It fell to the floor, discarded as the stallion began to take over Ian's mind.


The fur quickly spread up his body, forming stripes as his hair fell out, being quickly replaced by a zebra mane as with each thrust, his muzzle seemed to increase in length. It grew longer and longer as his teeth shifted to match his diet for the foreseeable future as his eyes darkened, instincts taking control and reducing the former man into a zebra stallion.


Alaina continued to feel her mate's cock inside her as the final changes began to wash over her. She called out to the sky, a horny bray coming from her vocals as she realised that she was no longer capable of human speech. She felt her face stretching out into a muzzle as she brayed loudly as her husband climaxed into her, ejaculating his seed into her.


To Alaina's surprise, her memories had remained intact. Scattered but intact as she felt Ian dismounting from her. He bent down to graze at the grass beneath his hooves as she looked around.


"Wait...where are my offspring?" thought Alaina, missing that she had referred to them as offspring as she felt her teats begin to swell up with milk. She noticed a couple of other zebras, recognising them as her own as the foal approached her.


Alaina instinctively nuzzled her foal who became rather peckish. Beth craved her mother's milk as Alaina felt her latch onto a teat. She drank greedily as Alaina felt content that her offspring were with her, safe and healthy.


"At least...we're all together. One big happy herd" was Alaina's last human thought as her eyes darkened, her mind succumbing to animal instincts as Beth continued to feed from her mother's teat.


Alaina began to graze at the grass, Max joining his father as the herd came together, forming a new bond as they found comfort in being together once again.


Epilogue:
Rebecca smiled as she got down from her position. She was extremely excited that she had obtained such great footage of the new herd of zebras that they had now acquired.


She approached the enclosure, using her magic as her finger glowed a shade of green. This caught the attention of the herd as they looked at her dumbly.


There was no indication that they were ever human as Rebecca smiled once more, satisfied with the results.


"Welcome to the Zoo, I hope you've enjoyed your sneak preview" started Rebecca, her hand glowing once more as the scraps of clothing soon faded from the enclosure. Any valuables or clothing were soon in Rebecca's possession as she glanced back at the herd.


"I'm glad that you were so cooperative today. For that...I'll tell you that Jacob has been here all along" stated Rebecca, pointing towards the Gorilla enclosure.


"Yep, Jacob decided to join us as well, becoming the new gorilla for all the lovely people once we open" continued Rebecca, saying the final words with condescending malice as she got out her camera.


"I'll leave the pair of you to get acquainted but first..." said Rebecca, taking a picture of the herd as she waited for the photo to come out. She smiled as she saw the result, intending on adding it to her scrapbook later.


"Ok, now behave you two, I hope you enjoy your playdate," said Rebecca jokingly as she carried the clothing and valuables, fully intending on taking them to the onsite incinerator.


The new herd stared at the Gorilla as they felt a connection which they could no longer comprehend. Eventually, they bent down to graze, dismissing their thoughts for the time being.


The stallion looked for a moment longer than the others, feeling a sense of contentment before returning to his herd, eager to see what tomorrow would bring.