In a Corner of My Soul: The Pack: Testing

[dragonyphoenix]

Masterlist for In a Corner of My Soul

A drawing in Rankin's Studies on the Masai depicted the results of animal possession. It wasn't good. “Damn.”

Willow looked up from her computer. “What is it?”

Giles dropped the book, open to an image of human suffering, onto the table. “Animal possession is more similar to demonic than I'd hoped.”

Willow, after one quick glance, blurted out, “We have to save him.”

Giles patted her shoulder. “We will.” No one had ever successfully removed a demon from its host. He had no reason to expect animal possession would be any different, but upsetting Willow gained him no advantage.

As Buffy entered, dragging Xander's body behind her, Willow ran over. “Oh God, what happened?”

“I hit him,” Buffy said. “With a desk.”

Damn, Buffy had gone out and brought Xander to him. He would have preferred one of the others. The girls would be upset if he killed their friend. He'd have to take more care than he'd anticipated. “Lock him in the cage, please.”

“Good idea,” Buffy replied as she dragged Xander into the cage.

The library doors swung open. “Mr. Giles.” Gods, what a time for Miss Mansfield to call. If she'd seen Xander … “Could I have a word?”

He strode to the door and joined her in the hall, more to prevent her from seeing Xander than from any desire to speak with her. As it turned out, she hadn't seen Buffy and Xander. “There's been an accident.” She told him that Flutie was dead, killed by wild dogs.

“Principal Flutie? Are you sure?”

“I saw the body myself. The bite marks …” She collapsed against him, burying her head against his chest.

“There, there.” He patted at her back until she composed herself.

As she started to brush tears away, he handed her his handkerchief. “Thank you.” She took a deep breath and handed the cloth back toward him.

“You keep it. After what you've been through, I'm sure you'll need it again.”

She took another deep breath. “There's to be a meeting, after school, for all the teachers and, uh, you as well. I'm not sure what …”

“I'm sure it will be … No, I don't suppose it will be alright, but we will get through this.”

“Yes. I should go … There's more staff to be told.”

“Of course, anything you need.” He stepped back into the library before she was out of sight.

“Is everything all right? Willow asked. Glancing toward the cage, she added, “I mean outside of Xander and the hyena possession.”

“Principal Flutie is dead. Eaten.”

“Eaten?” Somehow Willow managed to look even paler.

“As in the rest of the pack ate him?” Buffy asked.

“The official story is that wild dogs got into his office, but yes.”

“But Xander didn't.” Willow looked at Buffy. “He was with you.”

Giles felt he should say something comforting. “That's a small mercy at least.”

“Giles, how do we stop this? How do you trans-possess someone?”

You don't. He couldn't say that. Studying the hosts might still provide information he could use. “I'm afraid I still don't have all the pieces. There is a cult within the Masai, Primal's they're called, who take on animals, become possessed willingly. The accounts of their methods are a bit thin on the ground. There is some talk of a predatory act, but no description of the exact ritual. Although …” Why hadn't he thought of this earlier? “The Malleus Maleficarum deals in particulars of demonic possessions which would, almost certainly, apply. One should be able to transfer the spirits to another human.”

“Oh, that's great,” Buffy replied. “Any volunteers?”

Giles had no interest in removing the spirits from the students, but he couldn't tell that to Buffy. “Oh, good point.”

“What we need,” she added, “is to put the hyena back into the hyena.”

“None of my research so far has turned up any methods to, as you say, trans-posses the students.”

“But you said time is a factor.” Willow sounded terribly concerned. “They could start falling apart if we don't get to them in time.”

“Zoo guy,” Buffy said. “We need to talk to him.”

Did Buffy honestly believe a zookeeper had forced a possession onto the students? However, while the girls were off following Buffy's ridiculous lead, he would have time to investigate the spell. “You two go to the zoo. I'll stay here and see what I can learn from Xander.”

“Learn from Xander? But he's been knocked out.” At Buffy's glare, Willow added, “Not that I'm sure you didn't need to knock him out. I mean, that you did need to knock him out because I'm sure you wouldn't have if you didn't need to.”

“Believe me, I needed to.”

“I wasn't planning on interviewing him,” Giles said in response to Willow's question. “There are magics that can help me better understand animal possession. Without more knowledge, we can't help him.”

“Ooh, magic. Can I help? I mean, not just because it's magic but because I want to help Xander too.”

“Best leave this to me. Besides, I want you helping Buffy with the interview. You've been researching hyenas. Your input may prove invaluable in dredging information out of this zookeeper.”

“Meaning she might think of questions that I won't?”

“Um.” Willow's words interrupted Buffy's glare. “Not to rain on anybody's parade, but the zoo is a bit far for a leisurely stroll.”

Giles did his best not to wince as he pulled the car keys out of his pocket. “You've taken driver's ed, yes?”

Willow stammered. “Uh, yes, but I haven't taken the test yet. No license. I'm only allowed to drive under adult supervision.”

He tossed her the keys. “Best not be caught.”

“Giles, I can't do this.”

“I can drive,” Buffy interrupted.

“No,” Giles replied. “Willow, would you rather see Xander dead?”

“Oh.” He watched her take that in. “Okay.”

Giles waited until he was certain they were gone before injecting Xander. There, the boy wouldn't wake now. He drew blood and chanted as he mixed it with specific herbs. He unlocked the cage and drew symbols on Xander's face. A green mist came into view, shimmering around the boy. Giles thrust a piece of amber into the mist, only dropping it when it burst into flame. That cinched it. He hadn't been lying to the girls. Animal possession did have the same properties as demonic. If the hyena wasn't removed, Xander would die.