Title: Prey

Author: Jeanny

Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: Through Season 5, sorta

Distribution: I don't mind, just credit me and let me know where it's going.

Feedback: Please. jeannygrrl@hotmail.com

Summary: The Pack in the Dawnverse.

Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all the characters that appear on the show are the exclusive property of Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Inc., UPN and any one else with a legal binding claim to the shows and/or characters. No copyright infringement is intended. This story is basically an alternative retelling of "The Pack", written by Matt Kiene and Joe Reinkenmeyer. A lot of the dialogue and plot are theirs, just twisted a bit by little ole me.

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FROM THE DIARY OF DAWN SUMMERS:

...so now, thanks to my mother's brilliance, I have to hang out with Buffy after school instead of with my friends. Like that's fun and exciting. I mean, training? Boring as heck. Although I have to say that watching Mr. Giles get all red in the face and bent over is kinda fun, but it gets old fast.

The only good thing is that some days I get to hang around with Willow. She's so nice, and she doesn't treat me like a kid, you know? And sometimes Xander comes by, too. Xander is so into Buffy, and I just don't get it, because Willow is so much prettier and nicer and smarter and everything. And she totally loves him, you know? They should be together...but a part of me is glad that he's all into my sister, and he doesn't realize how perfect Willow is. Buffy's never gonna give him the time of day, and that means maybe someday he'll notice me.

Yeah, right. Keep dreaming, Summers.

But still - Dawn Harris sounds pretty good...

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"Hey Dawn! What's up?" Xander asked as he sauntered into the library and straddled the chair next to her casually. Dawn set aside the book she'd been reading without hesitation. She had been hoping Xander would stop by today, had even dressed in her new favorite dress in anticipation of this encounter. Of course, the only reason it was her new favorite was that it was yellow, which Willow had mentioned was Xander's favorite color. Willow was like a walking encyclopedia of Xander knowledge. As he was her pet subject, and as Dawn spent lots of time with Willow while Buffy was training, Dawn had learned a lot.

"Hi Xander," she said, wincing at how little-girly she sounded.

"Like the dress," Xander's offhand comment made Dawn's heart sing, as he continued, "You must have been driving all the young men crazy. So, what kind of literary nuttiness are we into today?" he asked, picking up her book quickly and absorbing the title with a cocked eyebrow. "'Lord of the Flies.' I think he's in my gym class." Dawn giggled and Xander handed the book back to her with a sigh. "Reading, in a library. Somehow that seems wrong."

"What should I be doing?" Dawn asked, and Xander grinned.

"Maybe...thumb-wrestling!" he said. Dawn giggled and the two of them indulged in the silly game until Buffy, Willow and Giles entered the room. The second he saw her sister Xander released her hand and stood up, struggling for cool and managing only awkwardness. Dawn sighed as she watched his eyes follow Buffy's every move, though her sister somehow remained clueless to the scrutiny. Of course, she barely noticed Willow watching Xander as intently as she herself had been, and Xander didn't realize he was under observation either.

"Why do I have to be punished for things beyond my control?" Buffy complained. Xander looked questioningly at Willow.

"Giles wants her to put in extra training tonight because we've got the field trip tomorrow."

"That's right," Xander said brightly. "Call of the wild. Sunnydale Zoo. Excellent."

"I'd so totally agree if not for my slave driver Watcher here," Buffy said sourly. Giles gave a long-suffering sigh.

"It simply won't do to let your training go...discipline is the key to a successful-"

"Spare me, Confucius. Don't worry, I'm changing." Giles seemed pleasantly surprised at her acquiescence, until she added saucily, "I suddenly see the upside in knocking you around for a few hours."

"A few hours?" Dawn reacted with dismay. "But I don't want to stay here."

"Dawn..." Buffy began, directing her already existing annoyance at her sister. Willow put her arms on Dawn's shoulders, giving her a shy grin.

"It's okay, Buffy. I can walk Dawnie home," Willow offered. "And I can stay until you get there, or your mom gets home..."

Buffy's doubtful look made Xander stand as well.

"And I'll bring the pizza," Xander offered. "We'll have a little pizza party."

"Oh, and I can help you with your trig," Willow said happily.

"Math and parties are antithetical concepts for most of us, Will. Now, Willow having just demonstrated what disqualifies her as chooser of party entertainment," Xander said sardonically, "I'm voting the Dawnster as head of the big party fun committee." Dawn positively glowed at the wink he gave her.

"You guys are the best," Buffy said warmly, and Xander blushed. Dawn rolled her eyes as her sister turned to glare at her. She knew what was coming. "And you better do whatever Willow and Xander tell you...and...just try not to be a pain, alright? And don't break anything!"

"Geez, Buffy, you make it sound like I'm not housetrained or something," Dawn complained, embarrassed. To both Summers women's surprise, Xander put an arm around Dawn's shoulder and gave Buffy a stern look.

"Yeah, she's a kid, not a wild animal, right Dawn?" he said. Dawn nodded mutely, a goofy grin plastered on her face. The feel of his arm draped around her shoulder made it easy for her to simply ignore that he'd just called her a kid. She felt so mature and womanly this way...

She stuck her tongue out at her sister as they left.

*********

Now they understood what they were.

They had been together for some time, realizing that they were stronger together. Using that strength to bully their weaker classmates. Insults usually; sometimes more...physical kinds of domination. Rules weren't just made to be broken, they were challenges, designed to instigate thrills. The kinds of thrills that you had to experience as a group...they belonged together, were a part of something. That was all that mattered.

They had brought the stupid weakling against his will into this forbidden place...there would be violence here. Rules broken, maybe even blood spilled. But then they felt the call. And when the other came to interfere, rather than disrupt the group he became a part of it, as if he had always been. The animals within them howled in recognition. He knew them now, as they knew him. One of their own. One of their kind.

They belonged together. They were a part of something. That was all that mattered.

*********

"Hey, thanks again for watching Dawn last night," Buffy said as she and Willow waited a bit less than patiently for Xander to emerge from the off-limits hyena exhibit.

"Oh, it was fun, Buffy. We Milton-Bradleyed Dawn into a stupor, she was out like a light. And then Xander and I did some studying."

"You pretended you were on a date, didn't you," Buffy teased knowingly as the two girls took a seat on a bench with a good view of the hyena exhibit.

"Yeah...only with baby-sitting and math," Willow confirmed excitedly. "Once, when I told him he got a right answer, he hugged me and I smelled the garlic on his breath." Off Buffy's look of amused disgust, she buried her head in her hands. "I'm hopeless, right? Buffy, I need help."

"At the risk of out-Giles-ing Giles in the category of mind-numbing repetitiveness, you're never going to have a chance with Xander if you don't take one."

"I know, you're right. And I'll tell him how I feel...sometime before I collect Social Security," Willow sighed. "Sometimes I wish I was still a kid like Dawn. In her case it's just love of the puppy variety."

"Yeah, it must be nice to...know what the heck you're talking about."

Willow stared incredulously at her friend.

"Come on, Buffy, you know...Dawn...likes Xander. Really really likes." An almost comic series of emotions played across Buffy's face, ending with disbelief.

"She's just a kid," Buffy protested weakly.

"Need I even say the words New Kids on the Block? Xander's totally Dawn's Jordan Knight." Both girls sighed dreamily, lost in memories for a moment before Willow continued, "It's just a phase. Don't tease her about it, Buffy. And don't say anything to Xander, I don't think he has a clue."

"I don't like it," Buffy groused. "Dawn's got a crush on my best guy friend...you just know that's gotta spell trouble."

*********

Dawn almost skipped onto Sunnydale High campus until she remembered she was trying to appear more adult. Instead she swung her hips widely in a failed attempt to imitate Buffy's effortless grace. In spite of her distraction she quickly registered that there weren't as many students around as usual, and the ones that were around were huddled in little groups of intense sadness. Dawn figured it was more misery courtesy of the Hellmouth; the mourning of the latest coed victim of impromptu neck rupture or whatever.

Which didn't explain why the hackles on her neck rose as soon as she started down the unnaturally quiet hall. Dawn couldn't explain why the echoing sound of her footsteps made her heart beat so fast. She found herself trying to move soundlessly, looking over her shoulder at the empty hallway behind her. The sensation was inexplicable and strange but completely unmistakable.

Someone was watching her.

Dawn resisted the urge to run, but picked up her pace. She stole a glance behind her when she heard a strange inhuman laugh echo through the hallway, but she saw no one. When she looked back around she plowed into someone, giving a little scream as someone grabbed hold of her arms. She sagged in relief when she saw who it was.

"Xander! I'm glad to see you. I think something's...someone was following me."

"Really?" Xander drawled, a small strange smile on his face as he stared at her intently. Dawn frowned nervously.

"Yes...I mean, I thought so...someone laughed, it was all weird. I think they're gone. You probably scared them away." When Xander didn't move or react other than to continue to smile at her, she tittered nervously. "You, ummm, you can let go of my arms now." He continued to stare at her with that little smile, and Dawn felt fear tickle across her stomach, something she never thought she would feel with Xander. "Xander, I said let go of me. You're hurting me!"

"Sorry," Xander said mildly, his tone completely insincere. He leaned in towards Dawn, who instinctively shrunk back as he audibly sniffed, looking disdainful.

"What are you doing? Xander, let me go!" Dawn squeaked, starting to struggle in earnest. Xander seemed to be enjoying her squirming and imperceptibly landed kicks. "Buffy!" Dawn wailed desperately.

"You know," he said softly, ignoring her as he propelled her roughly by the arms, nearly pushing her into an open locker, "all I ever wanted was her. But I was too weak for her. Too nice. She doesn't want a nice guy." He leaned in to smell her again, almost purring into her ear, "But it's okay now. I'm not nice anymore."

"Wh-what happened to you?" she asked falteringly. He smiled down at her, releasing one of her arms to move his hand to her face, brushing her hair almost gently off it. Dawn found herself unable to look away from Xander's fixed cold stare. His eyes were filled with some kind of odd wanting.

"I saw the error of my ways. You know, I think it's good that you learn this now, Dawn, while you're so young, and," he leaned in for a long sniff, "fresh. The world doesn't reward the nice and weak. It's survival of the fittest, and finally I'm one of the survivors."

"I don't understand. What's wrong with you? I...I don't like you like this." she whispered, tears threatening. He raised an amused eyebrow.

"Wow. Dawnie doesn't like me. No more puppy-dog eyes, no more little hearts with my name and yours intertwined in your notebook...yeah, I knew about that," Xander drawled at her shocked and wounded expression. "It's okay, Dawnie. Because, you see, I still like you...in fact, I think I like you even better now. Know why?" He grinned. Almost like his old smile, only now it was different, predatory...

"Because now you're..."

Dawn suddenly recognized the look he'd been giving her. Her knees threatened to give way.

"...afraid."

Hunger.

The animal with Xander's face snarled.

Dawn screamed like she had never screamed before.

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