As the sun was setting on another day, Cassidy laid on the roof of the houseboat. She pretended to be watching the sky, but was observing her teammates. Zane and Savannah were putting up the fishing net. Zane started the conversation blushing.

In A Gadda Da Vida was rambling to Heloise, who gave one of her hearty laughs. Plath was braiding Cecilia's hair. Norris volunteered himself to be in charge of making and keeping the fire. He was trying to get it started. It took him three matches. Octasia was beside him.

Cassidy leaned forward, eavesdropping.

"Nice," Octasia said. "Perfect for tonight's dinner. More fish."

"We're lucky you're a good cook," Norris replied.

Octasia giggled. "My sisters taught me everything I know about it. Growing up on an island, you learn to love fish."

She swung the dead fish in her hand, moving it like a puppet. "How about a kiss before they cook me handsome? Huh?"

She shoved the fish in his face as Norris jumped away.

Cassidy scoffed and rolled over. She saw Giovanni watching the two.

Cassidy laid on her back and closed her eyes. "Things are so boring, I'm going straight to snooze city…"

/

Later that day, Dolly and Kaobawa were strolling through the forest. Dolly jumped and splashed in a puddle. She giggled. Kaobawa smirked.

"Having fun?" he asked.

Dolly nodded. "It's so nice after the rain clears here. So many fun rain puddles. Or the way the rain catches the sun when it peeks through the treetops. I hate it when it rains, but I love right after it rains."

"It's deadly, but pretty," Kaobawa agreed. "Like...don't touch!"

He waved his hand at a tiny, but shiny yellow frog that hopped in front of Dolly. The girly girl gulped.

"I like catching toads and frogs after the rain," she said, "but that's a poison dart frog, huh?"

Kaobawa nodded. "Some bad, but not all. Some tribes use frog...the frog for weapons. Arrows and darts."

Dolly nodded.

The two stopped and stood under the tree as they let the little frog hop on.

"Your English has gotten really good by the way," Dolly replied.

Kaobawa shrugged. "It okay."

"Seriously!" Dolly said. She playfully slapped his shoulder. "Give yourself some credit. You're a fast learner."

"You and J.C. help me too."

"It's mostly J.C. I guess that's not surprising considering she is an interpreter for U.N. meetings. But, I'm happy I could help. You're...you're really fun to talk with."

Kaobawa blushed. "Really?"

Dolly nodded. "Maybe you can teach me some Yemanquo too."

"Don't you find me...strange?"

Dolly shook her head. "No...well, I find you different."

Kaobawa frowned and raised an eyebrow.

"I guess those words seem similar, but they aren't always. See, you're different. You're new. You're interesting...but that's not the right word either."

Dolly paused, tapping her chin in thought. "I mean you are interesting, that's why I like talking to you. But...how do I say it?"

She tapped her foot and pouted.

"I think I get," Kaobawa replied. "You interesting too, but more. Everyone interesting, everyone different...but even you are different from all of them."

Dolly blushed a little.

Kaobawa motioned her to follow him. He strolled over to a bush, parting the leaves to reveal a small patch of pink orchids growing.

"Ooh, they're beautiful," Dolly gasped.

She knelt down and sniffed them. "And they smell so sweet."

"I found hunting yesterday," Kaobawa said. "For you. You like pink."

"You noticed?"

"Dolly...you only wear pink. You own all pink. It's not a mystery."

Dolly giggled. "Geez, learn a little English and suddenly you're sassy."

"I was always sassy, you just didn't understand."

The two laughed.

Dolly sat in the confessional, weaving a chain of the pink flowers into a flower crown. "This show hasn't been as super fun as I hoped. A lot of my teammates are so mopey. Bleh! But Arwen is fun, J.C. is awesome...and Kaobawa is so cool. He's funny, but also nice. He helps remind me how amazing the Amazon actually is. Surviving in it, you forget you're actually living in the jungle! Didn't you always want to do that as a kid?"

She placed the crown on her head and smiled.

"Dolly is first...the first person who talked to me like I be normal," Kaobawa said. "Like I was not dumb for not knowing this or that. First person to treat me like one...like part of the tribe...the team. She is sweet. But smart too. Crafty. ...but I like that." - Down by the river, Flynn sighed. He ran water through his hair. He looked at his reflection as he tried to style it.

"Careful Narcissus."

"Huh?"

Flynn looked up to see Brantley. The highbrow was carrying a stack of firewood.

"Oh, sup Brantley."

"Keeping myself busy. You?"

"Trying to style my hair," Flynn admitted. "I've got a lot of hair gel, but it attracts like a lot of bugs. Not cool."

"Maybe someone has a hat you can borrow," Brantley suggested. "If they feel like sharing."

"Why wouldn't they?"

Brantley shrugged.

"Well, maybe I'll ask around."

Flynn went back to styling his hair, but Brantley didn't leave.

"You need something?"

"I'll be frank Flynn. I think you need something."

"Yeah, good hair product."

"No. Protection."

Flynn raised an eyebrow.

"We've been doing good to win challenges," Brantley replied, "but it's unlikely we won't go to elimination again."

"You think it could be me?" Flynn asked. "How?"

"I've heard rumblings," Brantley said. "I think you're an important part of the team, but some of the others have expressed that you're a little full of yourself and...I believe whiny was the word."

"No way," Flynn said. "There's no way they could be targeting me...right? Oh crap. Going home before the merge is so not cool."

"It's nothing final," Brantley replied. "Like I said, I believe you should stay. That's why I have a possible solution; let's form an alliance."

Flynn frowned. "Aren't those super evil?"

"Not really. 'Allies' is synonymous with friends. The method is valid, it's the intentions that make it bad. Ours is only survival and keeping our team strong."

The popular kid nodded. "That's a good point. You have to be a little ruthless on these shows anyway, right? It would be super cool to make big moves."

"The audience loves excitement," Brantley added.

"Okay, a small alliance between us. Just to help each other and the team. Sound fair?"

Flynn and Brantley shook hands.

"Flynn is annoying," Brantley said. "If he was anymore shallow, he'd be two dimensional. But it's that same itch to fit in that makes him an important piece. He's gone with whoever held the majority. The girls could likely use him just by getting enough votes. But with an alliance, I can take away one of their pieces for myself."

Brantley shrugged. "If I have to work with Dorian Gray, I will. At best he's a meat shield, at worse a pawn. But the pawn is the soul of chess."

"Brantley is one of the guys who'd get shoved into lockers if he wasn't rich," Flynn said. "Dude unironically wears sweater vests. He's not a guy I'd hang out with. I don't trust him either. But I've gotten weird vibes from some of the Anacondas. So maybe I can use him."

A little after sunset, Arwen crawled off into the forest. From her pocket, she pulled out a phone and turned on the flashlight.

"Let's see if this works."

She placed her phone on the ground, positioning it so the light pointed upward. Then she placed a leaf over the light; the leaf had been cut to resemble two capital 'M's. It projected a signal into the sky.

"I hope this works," Arwen said.

After a couple minutes, her phone petered out.

"And there goes my battery. I guess it didn't-"

Suddenly, Marvelous Man launched through the treetops. "Where's the danger?"

Arwen smiled and sheepishly waved.

"Oh, Ms. Arwen. Uh, I mean friendly citizen I don't know. Did you flash the Marvel-Signal?"

"Hehe, yeah. Sorry, I'm not in any trouble or anything. I wanted to talk."

"I see," Marvelous Man replied. "How did you know to use the Marvel-Signal anyway?"

"I figured a signal with your emblem would summon you. Glad it actually worked."

"Well, what can I do for you?"

"I wanted to thank you for helping save everyone," Arwen said. "You disappeared so fast I didn't get the chance."

"That's very sweet of you, but no need. Justice is its own reward."

Mr. Marvelous jumped down next to her. "I know you were worried about your teammates...especially some Tim fellow. I'm sure he appreciates your concern."

Arwen giggled. "I hope so. He's a very shy guy, but it's sweet."

Mr. Marvelous turns a deep red. "Well, I should-"

"Oh, could I ask some questions though?" Arwen asked. "I mean you're a superhero, but what's your backstory...I mean mythos? Like are you part of a superhero team?"

"I have formed a team actually," Tim replied, "With like-minded superheroes. We're called the Justice Squad. There's Martian Martial Artist, Wasp Woman, Teen Angel, and my former sidekick who now goes by The Strange Shadow."

"So you had a sidekick?" Arwen asked.

The superhero nodded. "They were young and inspired by me. Now that they're starting puberty they're doing that anti-hero thing and trying to be edgy. I mean follow your own path, but it's very nineties comics."

Arwen giggled. "You haven't gotten a new one?"

"I'm not really looking for one."

"Why not? You prefer to work alone?"

"No, no," Marvelous Man replied. "I formed the Justice Squad after all. People are more powerful and effective if they're working together. That's how you make real change."

Arwen nodded.

"It's just...losing my sidekick was hard. They went evil for a bit and teamed up with my arch-nemesis...it was a whole thing. I don't want a sidekick anymore. I want a partner. There's someone I'd like to be it...but I don't think they'd ever agree."

"Woah," Arwen said. "Heavy. Who?"

Marvelous Man turned away. "I've said too much. It's not important and you shouldn't concern yourself with it. I don't want my crime-fighting career to affect this show. I'm just here to offer the floating life raft of justice in these murky waters of danger!"

He fired a grappling hook and propelled up to a branch.

"Wait," Arwen said. "I still had more questions. And, I liked talking…"

The superhero sighed. "Thank you Arwen. I'm rooting for you on this show."

He ran off into the trees. The L.A.R. pouted, but shrugged and headed back to camp.

"I really like talking with Tim," Arwen said, "but he's so reserved and shy. I thought if I tried talking to him as Marvelous Man maybe he'd open up more...but it was even worse. I probably shouldn't have bothered."

She smiled and blushed. "But did you hear him say he's rooting for me? That's adorable."

"I hate to be curt with Arwen," Tim admitted. "She's a dynamite gal. But I don't want her to get caught up in all my superhero business. It's not all fun and games wearing colorful costumes and having high energy adventures."

Two days later, the teams were given directions of where to meet for the newest challenge. They arrived at a muddy field with several wooden platforms.

"Great," Brantley muttered, "today's challenge looks like good, clean fun."

"Beats another sasquatch attack," Dolly replied.

Rhonda stared and smiled at the teams. She kept staring…

"So, are we doing a challenge?" Octasia asked. "Or were you just lonely?"

"I was just waiting for everyone before I began."

"The Capybara herd is a little smaller than usual," Brantley stated.

"Maybe they quit," Flynn added.

Heloise silenced him with a glare, before scanning her team and sighing. "Where is Giovanni and Norris?"

/

The previously mentioned Jersey jock and Canadian were walking through the forest.

Giovanni tapped his chin in thought, a caveman-like expression on his face. "Dude...have we've pasted this tree already?"

"All the trees look the same," Norris added. "I think we're lost eh."

"I think you're right," Giovanni replied. "I thought I left a trail marker and everything."

Norris sighed. "I just had to stop to use the bathroom."

"Hey, you don't want to go during a challenge."

"You think Rhonda's going to be upset?"

"Pssh, as if. The contestants are the stars of the show, so she's just going to have to wait. We'll be there in two minutes, what's the big deal?"

/

"The big deal is I expect everyone to show up and participate," Rhonda stated. "If you're not going to bother trying, you shouldn't have bothered coming on to this show. No skipping challenges."

"Sorry I asked," Savannah replied, not looking at the hostess.

"So like, they're disqualified right?" Rubella asked. "Meaning we won?"

"You can't win by doing nothing," Heloise replied.

"We followed the rules," Dolly replied. "That's more than your crew."

"We should've stopped and waited on the boys," Plath admitted. Heloise hung her head.

"You should have," Rhonda said, "Because there will be consequences."

Most of the Anacondas smirked as the Capybaras looked upset or concerned.

Cecilia swooned, falling to her knees. "Oh cruel fate, how you've turned against us! We Capybaras were once your champions, now shunted to the side. What fate will befall Giovanni and Norris? Are you going to expel them from the game? An automatic elimination for breaking the rules?"

Rhonda tapped her chin in thought. "Since this is a first offense, it won't come to that. Plus, the challenge is already set up. I'd hate to waste it."

The Capybaras perked up a little. Cecilia stood up, sighing and dusting off her dress.

"But," Rhonda added. "The Anacondas will have a head start at the challenge."

"We probably wouldn't need it, but whatever," Rubella said.

"Oh you might, because today's challenge is rough. You'll need guts...and an empty stomach."

"Guess we couldn't avoid the gross food challenge forever," Zane sighed.

"Not exactly. See, you won't be eating."

The camera focused on the muddy field, zooming in on two starting lines. At the left line was an orange ladder, while a green ladder was at the right line. Each starting line was in front of a course identical to the other. "One member from each team will have to carry a ladder through the deep mud to the first platform."

Across from the platform were a series of low hanging tree branches. A vine dangled from each of them. "There, you'll have to swing from vine to vine…"

The camera panned across to the last vine, stopping at a series of rolling logs.

"You'll jump across the rolling logs…"

Another ladder was at the end, leading to a high platform with a zipline.

"Where you'll zipline to the final stage of the challenge. The main...course as it is."

Descending from the treetops were large metal hooks. Attached to the hooks was a comically oversized rack of meat. A giant bone was skewered inside it.

"A giant slab of meat!"

Flies already started buzzing around the slab.

"Meat?" Luis asked. "We...we have to eat that?"

"Oh no," Rhonda said. "You just have to strip it to the bone. Spitting it up would be easier, because anyone who throws up is out for the rest of the challenge."

"And it's...pork? Beef?" Octasia asked.

Rhonda shrugged. "Some kind of large animal. Probably a mammal."

Everyone stared at the meat, then the hostess and back at the meat.

"You each have ten minutes to run the obstacle course and tear off as much meat as you can. When you're finished, the next explorer will go. First team to strip the meat to the bone wins."

Montana smirked. "Okay, it sounds kind of fun."

"Don't forget the best part," Jenny added.

"Best part?"

"You can't use your hands to tear the meat!"

"What?" Cassidy asked.

"Jenny's right," Rhonda said, "you can only use your mouth to tear off meat chunks."

Everyone eyed the meat, juices slowly dripping off it.

"Oh, and no one can repeat the course until all their other team members have gone before them."

"Hold on," Savannah said, "that means that-"

"-Yeah, that Norris and Giovanni have to compete before any of you can do it again. Even if you manage to finish your rack without them, they have to participate before I give you the win. If they don't show up, you lose. You can forget any reward too."

Some of the Capybaras looked like they were about to protest, when Rhonda shot them a dark glare. "Be grateful I'm giving you a chance at all. I won't do the same thing next time."

She gave a look to the Anacondas as well.

"Now then, runners to their places."

"What are we supposed to do?" Savannah asked. "Without Flannel and Abs were screwed."

"You got that right," Octasia said. "In A Gadda Da Vida and I will go find them."

"We will?" Vida asked.

"But if you're not here," Plath said, "then-"

"Two more missing team members won't change anything," Octasia said. "We need those two dopes if we want a shot."

Heloise nodded. "Be careful. We'll make up for lost time."

Octasia smirked, dragging the short blonde behind her as they ran off into the rainforest.

The Ham gave a beastial growl as she marched up to the starting line. Montana winked at her at the opposite end.

"There's never been a meat product tougher than The Ham! OR TASTIER!"

Montana whistled as the Ham roared and flexed her muscles.

"Montana, you get a five minute head start," Rhonda said. "Starting...now!"

Montana tipped his hat to Heloise before running off. He grabbed the ladder and charged through the mud field. The further he made it, the deeper the mud became until it was just below his ankles.

Reaching the first platform, the adventurer raced up the ladder. He grabbed the first vine and swung high. He jumped, but instead of grabbing another vine, he flipped and landed on the rolling logs.

The Anacondas cheered as Montana smirked...only to trip and faceplant on the rolling log.

"Yeesh," Dolly cringed. "No cheering till they're done, right?"

The others nodded.

Montana finished quickly, reaching the zipline.

"Woohoo!" he cheered, grabbing onto his hat as he flew down and reached the final stage. "I've got to do that again!"

"Montana is the first to finish," Rhonda said.

Montana eyed the giant meat rack and shrugged. Putting his hands behind his back, he tore off a chunk. He chewed it, before swallowing.

"How is it?" Arwen called out.

"It tastes better than it looks," Montana admitted. "Very oily."

Luis tried his best not to gag.

"I think it's actually-"

"And now, Heloise you can-"

"OH YEAHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Less talking, more eating!" Rubella screamed.

Lifting the ladder with one hand, The Ham stomped through the mud. She only went as deep as her heels before reaching the first platform.

The Ham grabbed the first vine and jumped forward...as the vine snapped and she plummeted to the ground.

The Capybaras winced.

"Looks like all that muscle is too heavy for the vines," Rhonda said. "That means Heloise has to run the course from the beginning!"

Heloise spit up dirt and ran back to the starting line.

"You don't get to be the number one wrestler without making enemies," The Ham stated. "I have a pretty short list of foes because The Ham is like a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser; I WIPE OUT SCUM. But at the top of the list? Gravity."

Heloise reached the starting line. An intern had already moved the ladder back. She ran down with it, raced up and stared across the way. She didn't bother grabbing a vine, leaping off and grabbing a tree branch...that also snapped.

"**** YOU GRAVITY!"

/

Norris and Giovanni were still walking through the woods.

"I'm starting to get worried eh," Norris admitted.

Giovanni shrugged. "If we get too lost Rhonda will send a crew to look for us. I mean it's not like they don't know our location."

He looked directly at the camera. Norris shrugged.

"So...do you still feel like eliminating Welker was a good idea?" Norris asked.

"For sure," Giovanni said. "Dude was crazy. Plus he had a secret girlfriend."

"But we're allowed to date people, right?"

"Of course bro. He just shouldn't have kept it from us. You have to be smart if you're going to date on a reality show."

Norris chuckled a little. "It's a little funny eh. The guy who seems like the one to be putting on wheels not really wanting to date anyone."

Giovanni blushed. "I mean obviously I want to hook up with a lot of the girls. I know they wish the same."

"I'm sure."

"I'm just not going to be the dude that goes home for it. That's all."

The Jersey wannabe shook his head. "I can't believe I'm almost saying this, but it's almost a shame to be on a team with all the hotties."

"Not all the hotties," Norris said. "The Anacondas have a few rockets."

"Yeah? Which one of the girls, besides JC, have you noticed? I mean the nerdy one is kind of cute. The rich one is hot, till she starts whining…"

"Well," Norris replied, blushing, "I play for both the home and the away team on the rink, ya know?"

"Dude, I don't speak Canadian."

"I mean I'm bi."

Giovanni blushed. "Oh? That's super interesting. I mean not to me, duh. I don't care at all."

"Uhh…"

"I just mean that it's cool," Giovanni said.

"Thanks man," Norris replied. "To answer your question, the super muscular guy in the suit caught my eye. Not that it matters."

"Why not?"

Norris rubbed the back of his head. "We're on opposite teams. And...well...I might have a crush on someone else…"

"Dude, you're burying the lead!" Giovanni yelled. "So…who is it?"

"I don't know," Norris said. "I hate admitting a crush. If you admit it then those feelings are real."

"So?" Giovanni said. "I mean who knows. Maybe...maybe they actually feel the same way. You're a great guy."

Norris blushed. "Thanks bud. You too. Come one, let's focus on getting out of here."

/

As Montana tore away the meat, the sound of a snake hissing played from speakers.

"That's time for Montana!" Rhonda said. "Send your next explorers Anacondas."

"Dibs!" Dolly called, skipping off.

/

Heloise threw herself from tree to tree. Finally, she landed on the rolling pins. She panted. She growled at the pins, slamming her fists into them. They stopped rolling.

"Hey," Rubella said, "she can't do that!"

Rhonda shrugged. "I guess there isn't a rule against it."

Heloise smirked as she ran through the pins. She soared down the zipline and didn't stop running until she ran face first into meat. Everyone watched in both horror and amazement as she tore into it like a wild animal.

/

Everyone but Dolly, who was waist deep in mud. "Ugh, okay maybe I shouldn't have gone so soon."

She basically swam through it, pulling the ladder behind her, before she reached the platform. She climbed up it, almost slipping on the rungs. On the next platform, Dolly quickly realized a problem.

"Eh, eh, eh…these vines are a little tall..."

Dolly jumped, trying to reach them.

"Anyway we can get a step stool?" Rubella asked.

Dolly gave her the stink eye, but snagged a vine and soared across the trees.

/

Heloise was still tearing meat chunks, when the speakers made a squeaky, chuckling sound.

"What's that?" Savannah asked.

Cecilia raised an eyebrow.

"That's a 'click call' made by capybaras," Rhonda said. "Which means it's time for the next person to go. Of whoever's left."

Savannah shrugged. "Why not?"

She kicked off her sandals and ran down the muddy track.

Heloise raced back to the start. "Nobody's come back yet?"

Plath shook her head. "You don't think something happened to them, do you?"

"Hardly dear," Cecilia said. "If the boys were in trouble, Rhonda would be doing something."

"That's a good point."

"We shouldn't worry about them. Instead we should be furious they're not here!"

/

Dolly landed on the rolling pins and was so slippery she slid across them. She barely grabbed onto the zipline. She reached the meat, pinching her nose and started ripping off pieces.

"Okay," Rubella said. "We're keeping our lead. Luis, you're next."

"Me?" Luis said. "I don't know...maybe someone else should."

"But you're tall and big," Rubella said. "We need our strongest people going first to expand our lead!"

Brantley put his hand on Luis' shoulder.

Luis looked to the ground. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys sooner, but I'm vegan."

"Vegan?" Kaobawa asked.

"It means I don't eat meat or stuff made from animals."

"Oh," Arwen said, "that's why you only eat fruits!"

"No hunt either," Kaobawa added, nodding.

"Acause me?" Rubella said. "If you can't eat meat what are we supposed to do about this race!"

Brantley turned to the host with a cold gaze. "I find it hard to imagine you wouldn't know Luis' eating preferences. I assume you have a solution."

"I'm not giving out special treatment," Rhonda replied. "If someone has a fear of heights I'm not exempting them from the zipline for example. Luis has to run the course like everyone else. He can just wait for the timer to end however."

"So basically our lead is gone?" Luis sighed.

Rhonda shrugged.

"Can't you try just tearing it?" Flynn asked.

Luis shuddered. "I haven't eaten meat in years. If I swallow even a little, it could make me really sick."

"Fine," Rubella replied. "Kaobawa, you're next."

The chief rolled his eyes at her, but started running as the sound of hissing echoed again.

/

Savannah meanwhile was casually strolling across her team's now inactive rolling pins. She yawned, flying down the zipline with one hand.

Plath looked over at her teammates. Cassidy was whispering something in Cecilia's ear. She bit her lip nervously. She looked up as she felt Zane's hand on her shoulder.

"I'll go next," he volunteered.

"Are you sure?" Plath asked. "Maybe I should go ahead and get it over with...or would that just put us more behind?"

"Don't sweat it," Zane said. "Whenever you feel ready, you'll be ready."

"Thanks Zane. You're a real sweetheart."

Zane blushed, giggling and rubbing the back of his head.

"You know Plath, I saw you reading Harry Potter. I'm a huge fan. Luna Lovegood is my favorite. I had such a huge crush on her...er, I mean, not really cause she's a fictional character and that would be weird, but eh-"

Plath gasped. "I love Luna Lovegood! She's been my Halloween costume for the past three years! What's your favorite book?"

Heloise coughed. "Hate to interrupt but-"

She pointed to the course, where Savannah stopped as the Capybara noise played.

Zane blushed. "Well, wish me luck!"

"You'll do great," Plath cheered. "No worse than I will…"

"You'll kill it!" Heloise screamed.

Zane blushed even more before running.

Plath turned to the wrestler. "Sorry, we were geeking out about books. I didn't mean to-"

"Don't apologize so much," Heloise replied. "Life's too short to be doing that."

The bookworm smiled a little. "Right. Thanks."

/

Dolly groaned as she joined her team. "Montana you're such a liar. That meat was gross!"

"I thought it had a nice kick to it," Montana replied.

"It makes me want to be a vegetarian or something."

Luis squirmed in place as the others shared a look.

"What?" Dolly asked.

"Look," Arwen said. "Kaobawa's reaching the zipline!"

Kaobawa gulped, before grabbing the handle and zooming towards the meat. Dolly blushed as his loincloth started blowing in the wind.

Arwen, Jessica Crystal, Flynn, Rubella, Tim and Brantley all threw a hand over her eyes.

"Hey!"

/

Octasia and In A Gadda Da Vida were scanning the jungle. Well, Octasia was scanning the jungle. In A Gadda Da Vida followed behind her, playing with a loose strand of her hair.

"Those two could be miles away from us," Octasia groaned. "If they're not dead."

"Did you know that vending machines kill an average of 13 people a year?" In A Gadda Da Vida asked.

Octasia rolled her eyes. "Well hopefully Giovanni and Norris aren't pinned under a vending machine."

Octasia stopped and sighed. Vida sat down on a bit root, looking at her surroundings. Octasia looked at the shorter girl and smirked.

"There is a reason I wanted us to go look for them."

"I know."

"You...do?"

"You have the hots for Norris, don't you?"

Octasia raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"You like Norris. Like sexually," Vida explained. "But you don't have to worry, I'm not going to steal him from you. I easily could, but as your friend I'd never do that."

Octasia stared blankly at the girl. "Uhhhh...no. I actually had something I wanted to talk about…"

/

At the challenge, things were heating up. Cassidy had just arrived at her team's meat, while Tim had been tearing the meat off theirs.

Rubella glared as she studied both team's meat racks.

"We're still in the lead, but we're slipping. Once again, it looks like it's time for me to do what I do best."

"Faceplant?" Dolly asked.

"Scream?" Kaobawa suggested.

"Make a fool of yourself?" Arwen guessed.

Rubella glared at them. "Uh, no! Save the day! Obvi!"

The Anaconda's alarms went off.

Flipping her hair, the diva ran out.

"Ewwww, ahhh!"

She screamed, her heel stuck in the mud, tripping and faceplanting the dirt.

Dolly, Arwen and Kaobawa rolled their eyes.

/

Cecilia was doing stretches outside of the Capybaras finish line.

"You think you can handle the mud Feathers?" Savannah asked.

The actress shot her a glare. "Please. I played Landfill, an Autobot in Transformers: The Musical. I was Micheal Bay's first choice. I hired a professional dumpster diver to help me get into character. I can handle mud."

"A thumbs up would've worked."

The Capybaras alarm went off. Cassidy glared at the speakers, wiping her mouth on her sleeve. "The things I do for a good story."

Cecilia hiked up her skirt, daintily tiptoeing across the mud and trying not to look disgusted at it.

Montana noticed her and winked.

Cecilia smirked.

Cassidy raised her eyebrow as she rejoined the others.

"Give a little hustle Cecilia," Heloise said.

"We're going to need a miracle," Zane sighed.

"Or just just a real big dummy," Savannah replied. She pointed to the Anacondas' course.

/

Rubella crossed her arms, glowering. She swung upside down, her leg tied up in a vine.

/

Giovanni and Norris were still trekking through the forest. Giovanni sighed, swatting away a few bugs. Norris scratched his beard.

"I'm getting worried man," Norris admitted. "It's been over an hour. We haven't come across anyone or anything."

"I still can't believe we didn't find my marker," Giovanni said.

"What was your trail marker, eh?"

"I took off my tank and tied it to a tree. It was like a flag waving. Plus it was an excuse to show off these gorgeous abs on camera, am I right?"

Norris' smile dropped. "Uh, Giovanni...I...well…"

From his pocket, he pulled out a white tank top.

"Dude, you have a shirt just like mine! ...Wait...wait…"

Norris sighed. "I thought you just were just leaving it there, like usual with your shirts. I picked it up so we could use it back at camp. I didn't realize...I mean...it's even more my fault we're lost."

Norris looked up at Giovanni, bracing for the worst. Instead, Giovanni laughed.

"Aww man, that sucks. I guess I do kind of leave my shirts everywhere, huh?"

"You're not mad?"

Giovanni shrugged. "Nothing I can do about it now. Besides, I'm sure things are going fine with the Capybaras. Rhonda would not want to miss my killer moves at the challenge."

Norris sighed. "I'm supposed to be the team's wilderness expert and I got us stranded, eh."

"Why do you have to be the team's wilderness expert? Nobody here's been to the rainforest...except that dude from the Anacondas who lives in the rainforest."

The Canadian shook his head. "I've been the team's nature guy. I'm not great at it, but it least makes me feel useful. Like I actually play a role on the team and can...fit in."

Giovanni frowned, placing a hand on his teammate's shoulder. "Dude, you don't have to be a nature expert to be accepted on our team. I mean we're glad you know stuff, but nobody expects you to know everything. You don't need to have some job for us to like you. You're way awesome."

Norris chuckled a little. "I'm not awesome."

"I think you're cool, and I'm cool so I would know. People like you. ...I like you."

The foreigner smiled. He was about to say something, when his eyes grew wide.

"Seriously dude? Don't go back into a funk or-"

"Jaguar."

"Huh?"

Rawrrrrrr.

A towering and tall wildcat strutted forward. His tawny gold coat was decorated with dark rosettes.

"Woah, that's one big pussy cat. Think it's friendly?"

The jaguar growled, bearing his teeth. Both explorers frantically climbed up a tree as the cat paced around them.

"...And now we're about to be mauled to death," Norris sighed.

"If the cat can reach us up here," Giovanni replied, smirking.

The jaguar dug his claws into the tree bark and started scaling it.

"Crap," Norris shouted. "He's a way faster climber than us."

The two boys started climbing higher. Norris briefly stopped, looking out. He facepalmed. "Of course! We need to get a goose's eye view and we can find the others."

He peered out through the trees. To the northeast, he could make something.

"I think we have to head that way, eh."

"Great, super, cool," Giovanni replied. "But first-"

He motioned to the jaguar, who watched them with a grin from the branch above.

/

Rubella groaned, as she spun slightly in a circle. Her face was purple, the blood rushing to her. Finally, the vine snapped and she crashed to the ground. The Anacondas' alarm went off seconds later.

"I got this!" Arwen said, racing through the starting line.

Luis watched nervously as Arwen wadded through the mud.

"I feel so useless," he admitted.

"Don't," Brantley replied. "I imagine Rhonda knew this would be a problem. That only made her more eager to do the challenge."

"I'm still going to cost the team huge," Luis said. "Maybe I should just try tearing up the meat. But even then I don't think I could do it without vomiting…"

Brantley raised an eyebrow. Luis noticed.

"What is it?"

"Well, it's just a thought but…"

"You have an idea?"

"It's not a good idea."

"Is losing any better?"

Brantley sighed and shook his head, leaning over to whisper in Luis' ear. Brantley frowned, but Luis jumped up and crushed Brantley inside of a big old bear hug.

"That's brilliant Brantley! Woooooo!"

The other Anacondas, and a few Capybaras, gave the duo confused looks.

/

At the Capybaras' meat slab, Cecilia paused and shuddered. Meat juice was running down her face. She spit out a tiny piece of meat. She growled, placing her hands behind her back again and diving head first into the meat rack. She pulled with her teeth, ripping off another chunk.

The rest of the Capybaras cheered as she continued. But they were quickly drowned out by a now familiar squeaking sound.

Cecilia sighed in relief, taking a bow before exiting left.

Plath gulped, but forced a smile. Her teammates started to shout cheers, but she started running.

"I was feeling a little pressure," Plath admitted. "I was the last person yet to go, and if the others didn't show up soon, I'd be the last person for a while. I needed to give us a lead. But it's fine. Everything's fine. I'm fine. It's fine. I'm fine. We're fine. It's fine."

She exhaled for a really, really long time.

Plath made it through the mud quick enough. Despite some apprehension, she managed to swing through the vines while chanting, "Don't look down, don't look down…"

With a squee, she landed on the rolling pins. She smiled, as she raced across them…

And then the pins turned back on. She tripped, taking a rolling pin right to the face. The pins quickly crushed her glasses into pieces.

"I'm okay!"

The Capybaras winced.

Plath stumbled forward though, reaching the zipline and racing it down it.

"You have to admire her," Cecilia said, "The tenacious yet meek dear."

"She's not a quitter," Heloise added.

/

Octasia and In A Gadda Da Vida were still roaming the jungle. Octasia groaned, resting against a tree. Vida, panting, did the same.

"Do we have an actual plan?" Vida asked.

"Yes," Octasia replied. "Keep walking until we conveniently stumble on them."

"Oh."

…

"Is that all?"

"What's your plan then?" Octasia asked. "You want to ask if someone's seen them?"

In A Gadda Da Vida immediately jumped up. "Yes. That's what we should do."

"...What?"

"We'll ask someone if they've seen Norris and Giovanni. Someone who's been living in the rainforest. Someone I know intimately…"

Octasia raised an eyebrow, then immediately furrowed it. "Please, don't tell me you mean-"

"My twin sister Maureen! Maureen! Maureen!"

Vida stopped at an edge of the river and smiled at her reflection. "There she is. You should've spoken up sooner. It's just me and Octasia."

Octasia walked over and 'waved'.

"Maureen, have you seen Norris or Giovanni?"

A leaf fell in the water, creating ripples that made it look kind of like 'Maureen' was nodding...or sneezing.

"You have? You really need to work on speaking up. So where are they?"

Vida stared at her reflection. Octasia stared at her in shock.

"Don't give me the silent treatment Maureen. I swear, you do this all the time because you're jealous. Jealous that I'm the cool, popular sister. Yeah, I said it!"

"Help!"

"Help me, and I'll help you fix your life Maureen."

"Wait, that's not Maureen's voice!" Octasia said. "...What am I saying, of course it's not."

"She does a lot of impressions," Vida replied.

"Help, eh."

"Norris!" Octasia screamed. "Norris!"

Another leaf fell, making it look like 'Maureen' is pointing right.

"Thank you," Vida replied. "I'm sorry for sharing the harsh truth. Come on Octasia, they went this way."

The odd duck ran off, leaving Octasia confused but following after her. "That's where they were screaming from anyway…"

/

Plath was tearing the meat at her team's station, while Arwen was doing the same.

The L.A.R. shrugged. "Honestly, it's just kind of bland tasting."

The Anacondas' speakers hissed again.

"And Arwen is done. Who's left for the Anacondas?"

Luis nodded at Brantley before racing up. He crossed the finish line, then stopped. He stuck a finger down his throat. He stared at the raw meat, flies still buzzing around it.

"Uh," Flynn said, "What is Luis trying to-"

Luis leaned over behind a bush and vomited.

"Ew. Nevermind."

Luis immediately jumped up. He beamed. "So I guess this means I'm out of the challenge, right?"

Dolly smirked. "I get it! Rules say you can't throw up, so if Luis did, he's done!"

Rhonda shrugged. "Weird, but you found a loophole. Luis is done, you can send your next runner Anacondas!"

The Bootylicious Anacondas cheered. Flynn high-fived Luis as he passed, then winced and rubbed his hand on his pants.

/

The Capybaras watched them with confused expressions.

"They seem really happy someone threw up," Zane said.

The Capybaras' speakers went off. Plath soon joined her team.

"Nice job Freckles," Savannah said. "You got us a big lead...sorry about the glasses."

"No biggie," Plath replied. "I'm nearsighted. Plus, I have like five extra pairs in my luggage."

"Five?" Cassidy asked.

Plath blushed. "My mom is...very protective. Any sign of the others?"

"Nada," Savannah replied.

"I'm sure they'll be here any minute," Zane said.

/

Twenty minutes later, the Capybaras sat on the ground looking depressed.

They barely reacted as the Anacondas cheered. Jessica Crystal ziplined down to her team's meat rack. Suddenly, two macaws tied a bib around her neck.

"Thank you dears."

She nodded and started tearing the meat into perfectly equal strips.

Heloise growled and jumped up. "What are we doing? We need to go looking for them."

"But the challenge," Cecilia started to say, "If-"

"Who cares? We can't compete till they do. More importantly, they could be in danger. They're our teammates, so as a team let's go save them!"

Rawrrrr.

"Make way!"

Everyone turned as Giovanni, Norris, Octasia and In A Gadda Da Vida ran in.

"Where have you been?" Cecilia asked. "Do you know-"

"No time," Norris said. "Running for our lives. Look out!"

The jaguar leapt forward after them. He smirked as he eyed the explorers.

"Wow!" Luis said. "Look at that handsome coat. This jaguar is amazing."

"Real amazing," Octasia replied. "Especially as he tries to eat us."

"They are the top of the food chain here," Luis replied. "They're teeth are so powerful, they can-"

"Not helping!"

The jaguar cornered the four Capybaras to a tree. He growled at them. Heloise leaped in front of them, but before a brawl could ensue...

"Yoohoo!"

Luis whistled. He waved a basket full of his team's meat shreddings before dumping them on the ground. The jaguar licked his lips, racing over and starting to devour the meat.

"Brilliant thinking again Luis," Brantley complimented.

Luis blushed and shrugged.

"Everyone thinks predators are these mean, nasty creatures," Luis said. "They're just animals, doing what's in their nature. They only care about survival. It's a little sad how our immediate reaction is fear. They're not evil creatures. I sometimes wonder if evil really exists outside of humans, you know?"

"So, what's the challenge?" Giovanni asked. He ignored the glares from several of his teammates.

Before they finished explaining, the jersey jock was already hightailing through the mud. He zoomed up the ladder. He grabbed a vine and started swinging.

Beating his chest, he roared, "Aahuaaa uaaa uaaaaaaaa!"

Only to swing straight into a tree trunk.

"More George of the Jungle than Tarzan," Octasia commented.

Giovanni quickly recovered, swinging over to the next platform. He hopped through the rolling pins and flew down the zipline.

"That meathead is really tearing up that meat," Savannah said.

"The Capybaras are finally back in this," Rhonda said. "Giovanni is making up time, but will it be enough? Do they still have a shot? Are these underdogs coming back? Will-"

"Ahem."

Jessica Crystal cleared her throat, even though it was always crystal clear. She undid her still clean bib. She motioned to the rack, which was nothing but a shiny bone.

"I'm finished."

"And the Bootylicious Anacondas win their third challenge in a row!"

"Shocker," Toby said.

The Anacondas cheered. Jessica Crystal laughed and joined her teammates in a giant group hug.

Giovanni looked up, spitting out meat. He saw the defeated looks on his teammates. Most were sad, a couple annoyed and angry. He focused on Norris' sullen expression.

/

The explorers gathered at the reward zone.

"Alright Anacondas, let's take a look at, curtain number three!"

The third curtain lifted to reveal a set of dishware and utensils.

"Ooh, a fabulous dishware set," Rhonda said. "An assortment of plates and utensils, so you can stop eating with your hands! Not to mention pots and pans for cooking, and large kitchen knives for cooking up your food. So, what will it be?"

"Sounds lame," Dolly said.

"It'd be nice to pretend to be more civilized," Brantley said, "but it's not an essential. We've been doing fine with our fire pit."

"Plus we have a knife," Montana added. "I always carry my trusty machete on me."

"Alright," Rubella said. "Then we choose curtain number one!"

The first curtain lifted to reveal...a piece of paper.

The Anacondas sighed. The Capybaras finally started to smile.

Toby tossed it to Rubella. She raised an eyebrow. "What is this?"

Arwen peeked it. "Cool, looks like a map to a dungeon."

"It is a map," Rhonda said. "Specifically, it's a map that'll help you at our next challenge!"

"Wait, you mean it's a challenge advantage?" Tim asked.

"Exactly!"

The Anacondas let out another cheer that deflated any enthusiasm the Capybaras had left.

"Alright Capybaras," Rhonda said. "What will it be, dishes or curtain number two?"

The Capybaras quickly decided to risk a better prize and chose curtain number two. The curtain lifted to reveal...a deck of cards.

"Cards?" Octasia asked, as Jenny handed her the box.

"If you kids have found yourself bored or trapped inside because of the rain," Rhonda said, "here's something to help you pass the time!"

"Sweet," Savannah replied.

The rest of the team shrugged or sighed. It wasn't a bad prize; truth is it did get boring out there. But it wasn't enough to raise their spirits.

"Don't spend too much time playing games though," Rhonda said. "You have to figure out who to vote off tonight."

Most of the Capybaras, and even the Anacondas, cast looks at Norris and Giovanni.

/

The Capybaras marched back to the boathouse. No one said anything. For a few minutes.

"We gonna talk about it or what?" Savannah asked.

Cassidy nodded. "I'm dying to know. Norris, Giovanni; what happened to you two?"

"We got lost," Giovanni replied.

"You don't say," Octasia said. "How? When did you separate from the group?"

Norris rubbed the back of his head. "Well, see-"

"I had to use the bathroom," Giovanni interrupted. "I dragged Norris along with me to stand guard. We got separated and I lead us the wrong way from the challenge. That was my bad."

Norris gave Giovanni a concerned look, but either he didn't notice or just didn't respond.

"At least you admitted to it," Helosie said.

"Were you guys okay?" Plath asked.

Giovanni tried not to glare at her. "Yeah. We handled ourselves just fine."

Plath stepped back. "I just mean, there was a jaguar chasing you and all that..."

"You should have told us what you were doing," Heloise stated.

Norris shrugged. "Yeah, we should have."

"But you should have paid more attention," Giovanni asked. "I mean, no one on this team noticed we were gone?"

"I noticed," Cassidy admitted. "I just didn't care."

"Yeah, I messed up," Giovanni said, "but eight other people managed to forget the two of us? What are we, chopped liver?"

Cecilia stepped forward towards the boys. "I take umbrage that this is our fault. Maybe we should have been aware, but that doesn't excuse you for being irresponsible."

She pointed a finger at Giovanni. "I'm not going to feel bad about your mistake."

"Whatever," Giovanni said, waving her hand away. "I'm sorry, okay?"

Everyone stood around silently. Finally, the Capybaras marched back to their boathouse.

"Giovanni isn't wrong we should've noticed," Heloise admitted. "But there are some responsibilities you just assume people take care of. We trusted he and Norris could stick with the group and go to a challenge."

She shrugged. "We lost because we didn't have two team members. That's it. Everyone stepped up, took on extra responsibility and tried hard. No one else deserves to go home. Plus, Giovanni doesn't do himself any favors with his personality."

"I can't believe Giovanni took the fall for me, eh," Norris said. "He really is a nice dude. I can't let him go home because it...but I don't think anyone will flip. Zane in our guys' alliance, but the girls won't bite."

He took off his hat and sighed into it. "This is all my fault."

Giovanni was alone, close to the shoreline. He was gathering firewood, trying to look busy. He cast a glance back to the boat. Zane and Norris were talking to Savannah and Plath on the deck. Plath looked to the ground, while Savannah shook her head.

He groaned and went deeper into the forest.

"Why did I do that? Now I'm going home like a chump. That was so stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid…"

"You sure are."

Giovanni looked up. Octasia was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, watching him.

"Don't you have somewhere better to be?"

"Nope."

Giovanni started to walk away, but Octasia strolled right beside him.

"Let's go for a walk…quickly."

/

Giovanni raised an eyebrow, but followed her out of view from the boathouse.

"Look," Octasia said, "I might be able to save you."

"Really?" Giovanni asked.

Octasia nodded. "It's a long shot, but it's possible...under the right conditions."

The jock frowned. "I knew it was too good to be true."

"Hey, I'm the one risking my neck to save you," Octasia replied. "It's got to be worth my while."

"So what do you want?"

"A final two deal."

Giovanni raised an eyebrow, but the tall girl continued, "You have to promise to take me to the finale. That means no voting for me or trying to betray me. Even if you have to destroy your own game or vote for yourself, you can't go against me."

Giovanni scowled. "So I'm playing for you to win."

"Of course not. You can still compete in the finale...as long as you make sure I'm there."

The jersey jock crossed his arms, not quick to say anything.

"What do you have to lose?" Octasia asked. "If you don't, you're out. But if you're content going home, then stop wasting my time."

She started to walk away, but Giovanni spoke.

"We make it a final three."

"Huh?"

"You, me and Norris. We take him to the final three with us."

Now Octasia stopped to think. "Hmmm…'kay, but you have to take me over him. Or if Norris wins the final challenge-"

"I let him take you," Giovanni finished. "Yeah, I got it...Fine. It's a deal."

Octasia tittered. "Wonderful. Now, can you get Zane to vote with you?"

"Of course I can," Giovanni replied. "He's my bro."

"Good," she said. "So, here's the catch…"

"There wasn't already a catch?"

Octasia rolled her eyes. "It'll be a tie. Five votes on another person, but everyone else will vote for you. If you can't survive the tiebreaker, there's nothing else I can do."

Giovanni bit his lip, but sighed. "It's better than nothing. So we target Plath. If it's a challenge, I'll crush her!"

"Yeah, no. There's only one person we can vote for."

"Seriously?" Giovanni groaned. "Why?"

"Because…" Octasia said. "I can grab a second vote, but she's only interested if it's this person. If we all don't vote for her, it's too late."

"Any other requirements I need to know about."

"That's probably it."

"Great. So...who are we voting for?"

"I'm not torn up if Giovanni leaves," Octasia said, "but I can use him. Not to mention Norris will really appreciate it. I joined to play this game, so it's time to play. If he leaves, no skin off my back. All that really matters is that w-"

The confessional was edited to cut off here in the final episode.

The Capybaras looked annoyed or disappointed to be sitting at another elimination ceremony.

"Three loses in a row," Rhonda said, "Do you guys just like coming here that much?"

"Just get on with it Rosie," Savannah said.

Rhonda glared, but frowned.

After the votes, Rhonda took out a platter of nine cocoa pods.

"You know how this works already. The first pod goes to...Zane."

Rhonda tossed the pod, landing it in Zane's fro. He forced a laugh and stood up.

"Heloise. In A Gadda Da Vida."

Heloise cast her vote for Giovanni. "I feel like we should've gotten along, but your attitude stopped that. Let me know when you get over yourself."

In A Gadda Da Vida cast her vote. "Octasia told me all the smack you were talking. I don't care what you were saying about me, but all that stuff about Octasia? Rude. She's been nice to me, and Maureen. Maureen doesn't have a lot of friends, so I'm trusting she's right. See you, wouldn't want to be you."

"Cecilia, Octasia, Plath."

Octasia cast her vote. "I have a sinking feeling you know more than you're letting on. I can't have loose lips sink our ship. You're cool, but not cooler than two million dollars."

Plath cast her vote for Giovanni. "You messed up today. Maybe I'm crazy, but I also feel like you've been really snippy with me?"

"Cassidy. Norris."

Norris cast his vote. "I'm still surprised Giovanni stuck his neck out for me, but I can't let him pay for it. Here's hoping Octasia's plan works eh."

"I only have one cocoa pod left. Giovanni, Savannah. One of you is going home."

Savannah frowned, not sure why she was here. She looked to Giovanni for confirmation, but he turned away as soon as she did.

Savannah cast her vote, flashing a peace sign. "Sucks, but what can you do? Better luck next time Abs."

Giovanni cast his vote for Savannah. "I don't know who wants her out or why, but it's her or me. And it ain't going to be me."

"And the final cocoa pod goes to…"

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

…Giovanni."

Giovanni didn't move, a dumbstruck look on his face.

"What?" Savannah asked.

"Savannah, you've-"

"Yeah, yeah I heard. What the **** guys?"

Half of her team were at a loss, the other half not exactly saying anything. Finally, Cecilia stood dramatically.

"Funny isn't it?" Cecilia asked. ""You heard Rhonda? I thought your hearing aid wasn't working."

Savannah blinked. "Well...I mean...don't change the subject! Why am I going home?"

"Beats me, but I'm okay with it," Giovanni said, smirking. He jumped up, claiming his cocoa pod.

Savannah grumbled, but stood up. "Fine, if no one wants to talk then I guess I have nothing to say. Peace out dudes."

Plath mouthed bye and waved. A few of the others joined.

"I'm afraid it's time Savannah," Rhonda said. "The Slab of Shame-"

"Screw that," Savannah replied.

With a running start, she jumped over the edge of the temple and aimed for the river while shouting, "Cannonball!"

With a big splash she landed in the river. Turning off her hearing aid, she closed her eyes and floated over the Fall of Losers without a second thought.

Rhonda rolled her eyes. "Fine, but no one else is allowed to skip the slab. I don't follow the shame naming conviction for my health."

/

The Capybaras exited out of the temple.

Norris winked at Octasia. She smiled and nodded, but frowned as she turned to Vida.

"It was supposed to be a tie," she whispered.

In A Gadda Da Vida stared absent-mindedly as she played with a strand of hair. "So? She's gone and can't say mean stuff anymore."

"Yeah, but now we don't know who flipped."

/

Giovanni put his arms around Norris and Zane.

"We did it boys!" he whispered, grinning. "The bros' alliance is still in this."

"I'm glad it worked out," Norris replied. "No tie either."

"That's what I'm talking about," Giovanni said. "Thank you guys for sticking with me."

Zane forced a smile. "Yeah."

Zane drummed his fingers against the voting booth. "I know that if I don't do this Giovanni is going home…"

He wrote Savannah's name down...before crossing it out. "But I can't do that. Savannah is cool. I mean yeah, I kind of like her. Even if I didn't, she didn't mess up today. It's only fair."

He wrote Giovanni's name above it and cast his vote. "Sorry man, but you deserve to be voted off."

"We did it," Zane muttered, forcing a chuckle.

Cecilia approached Plath and Heloise. "My apologies girls, I'll explain everything later. Trust me, it's better we keep Giovanni now."

The two girls shared a look, but nodded.

In pretty font, Cecilia wrote Savannah's name. "I noticed you lied about that hearing aid. You're not a good enough actor to fool an actress darling. I also heard you had actually agreed to an alliance with that Mana Nobody to vote me off. You played a dangerous game. Blame yourself for getting in danger."

With a toss of her hair for flourish, she cast her vote.

Trailing behind her team to watch them all, Cassidy smirked at their reactions.

"Finally," she whispered, "things are getting interesting."

/

Rhonda returned to camp smirking. She stopped when she saw a crew-member waiting, a bag over their shoulder.

"Seriously?" Rhonda asked. "You're leaving too, Mark?"

"Don't talk me out of it," the man said. "I've made up my mind. The jeep's coming."

"Why?"

"The Mapinguari," Mark replied.

"Don't give me that," Rhonda said. "That was just Mana in a costume. Why are droves of our staff still quitting?"

"Weird things were happening before she was voted off," Mark said.

"You made the obstacle course today. We went out of our way to hire you. Gave you a raise so you could save money for your wedding. Why are you leaving?"

Mark looked directly at her. "Rhonda, you're a weirdo but you're nice. So trust me. If you stay on this show; bad things will happen."

He pleaded with his eyes. Rhonda stepped back. "What do you mean?"

"Trust me."

Rhonda shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere. I didn't abandon ship last season and now we actually have good ratings. I'm not leaving."

"I tried to warn you. Good luck."

Rhonda walked off. The former set director sighed, adjusting his bag and marched on.

"Tsk, tsk."

Mark froze.

There was rustling in the bushes. Slowly, someone crept out.

"You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?"

"Cassidy."

The girl dusted off her skirt. "It's funny. All my little birds just keep flying the coop. Now you too?"

"I...I had to leave. Something at home-"

"Oh what?" Cassidy asked. "Something came up? How awfully convenient. You must be real homesick. Missing that sweet fiancée of yours?"

Mark moved forward, but Cassidy stepped in front of him. She circled him. "How long have you guys been dating? Two years? Three?"

"F-five."

"Wow. The big five! She must be something special. Not like that intern. What was her name? Jill? Leann? Nancy?"

Mark gulped. Cassidy smirked, giggling to herself. "Oh yes, it was Nancy."

Cassidy suddenly stepped into his face. "It would be a real shame if, oh I don't know, your girl back home got an email with photos of you kissing Nancy at the big party you threw after the first episode."

"I've already done so much for you," Mark replied.

"And?"

"And I can't do it anymore."

Cassidy scowled. "That's right. You can't. Not without a job! That's the whole point! You and those other dodos were supposed to give me tantalizing details and I'd keep your secrets. Now I'm going to have to train a whole new flock of interns."

The gossipmonger pulled out her phone and began typing away. "Guess I'll just send that email to your fiancée."

"You can't!"

"Oh, I can. It's really easy. See I just hit this teeny tiny button and-"

The man dropped down to his knees, pulling on Cassidy's stockings. "Please! I-I hid your spy equipment in the sets. I gave you all the files I could. I bugged the phones for God's sake!"

Cassidy raised an eyebrow, then looked at her phone.

"I'm sorry! Please! Please! I'll...I'll rejoin the show. Yeah, I can tell Rhonda I changed my mind. Okay?"

"Ugh, forget it," Cassidy replied. "It would be too suspicious if you suddenly came back. I won't send it. Just leave already."

"T-Thank you! Thank you!"

The headlights of the jeep shined as it pulled into the camp. Mark stood up, grabbed his bag and headed towards the light.

Ping.

Mark turned around. Cassidy stared him down while grinning.

"Oops. Finger slipped."

"But you said..."

"I have to make an example for the rest of my little birdies," Cassidy replied.

She started tapping away on her phone. Mark growled. "I'm going to march into that office and tell Rhonda everything. I'm going to blow your little game up into smithereens! I'll get you kicked off."

"You could do that," Cassidy said, not looking up from her phone. "And I could tell your fiancée about the others. Jocelyn. Becky. Tyson. Or, you can go home and try to salvage what's left of your relationship. Your choice."

The man sighed, holding his head into his hands. Finally, he left for the jeep.

Cassidy turned and stared at the little black pavilion. She smirked to herself before slinking back into the bushes.

Author's Note

Sorry this has been long overdue everyone. Like I said in the first author's notes, life is crazy right now and I have three jobs. I do hope that I can update this story with a chapter every month going forward, but I haven't and I don't want to promise that. I have dropped one job, but I'm working more of a different one so I'm not sure how much more free time I'll have.

I did suffer a bit from a lack of motivation. This chapter was a bit of a struggle to figure out. I've started writing the next one, but it's a little challenging so far. Still, I don't know if I'll ever stop writing Total Drama fic at this point. But let's focus on this chapter!

Chapter 6 Meat, Pray, Love

The challenge was inspired by a classic Survivor challenge, combined with the canon Total Drama All-Stars pancake challenge. I think it's a fun set-up, but might work better as a visual then reading it. I debated adding more elements to the obstacle course, but that felt like a lot. It might've also just been a better challenge if there were fewer contestants. But re-reading it, I think it holds up alright.

I admit the chapter has a weird set-up. I gave the Capybaras less scenes than the Anacondas before the challenge, because they had a lot of scenes between the challenge. It worked to give me scene cuts, but still.

I always wondered what would happen if like half of the cast of a season just didn't want to compete. We've had a couple instances in canon where someone just doesn't show up for a challenge, but nothing really happened. I thought it'd be fun to explore.

Rhonda, the character, is just way too invested in her challenges (and desperate to appear to have some respect and authority) that she wouldn't stand for it. Unfortunate for the Capybaras, but it gave Giovanni and Norris more spotlight.

I'm sorry for fans of Savannah (I know at least one who will be sad). Unfortunately she was the last female character made. The final characters created always kind of get the short stick. Even if others were made to be earlier boots, they're around so long you just think about them more. With a few exceptions, most characters created last don't make it far.

It's a shame because Savannah was really fun to write. She does what she wants and doesn't care if you don't like it or even if it's not a good idea. Her skipping the slab of shame was me giving her one last rebellious moment, leaving on her terms.

I feel like this chapter might be a turning point. Up to till now, most of the eliminations haven't caused a stir. But the game is stepping up, people have their own motives and things are getting complicated.

I hope everyone understood how the elimination happened. It's a bit complicated, but I worry it feels like I over explain the elimination. ...Which I kind of still did, but ya know.

I can't wait for the next chapter. A lot of things I've been planning finally happen :) Till then please share your feedback on Amazon!

Appendix: Elimination History

Eddie (Anacondas)- 24th

Quinton (Anacondas) 23rd

Mana Somebody (Capybaras)- 22nd

Welker (Capybaras)- 21st

Savannah (Capybaras)- 20th