Whilst on a school visit to Sunnydale Zoo, Xander finds himself defending Lance against 4 troublemakers from the school, Kyle, Rhonda, Tor and Heidi. Whilst in the closed Hyena compoud that the bullys had forced Lance into all except for Lance are possesed with the predatory spirit of the Hyena.

The behaviour of Xander changes almost instantly as he favours the company of the four bullys to that of Willow and Buffy. He goes as far as to humiliate Willow in a school corridor in front of the four bullys and other students.

All five who have been posessed eat the mascot of the razorbacks, Herbert the pig. and when Principal Flutie catches up with Kyle, Rhonda, Tor and Heidi and drags them to his office they eat him aswell.

Xander who was persuing his interest in Buffy at the time is knocked unconciouss by her and locked in the Library.

Giles researches references to the "Primals" who are animal worshippers that can draw the spirits of animals into themselves. Buffy and Giles turn to the keeper of the Hyenas for help, but on leading the pack to the Hyenas they find out that he was attempting to draw the power on himself. He succeeds in taking the power from the students, but is tossed into the Hyena cage by Buffy.