In the dining hall the two teams sat at their respective tables and ate breakfast. On the gopher side, the girls all sat together at one end of the table. Their conversation cut short as the sound of Petunia's head colliding with the table shook the benches.
"What's happening?" Sophie asked Juliette as she patted their friend on the back.
"Her and Addison finished the bag of candy they got last challenge." Juliette explained, "I guess it was expired…"
Petunia lifted her head slowly, "Addison and I had an eat off. That dude is a monster."
Rosie scoffed, "I guess his lack of brain matter is made up by his bad eating habits!"
"Hey I have a stomach of steel!" Addison stood up shouted from the other side of the table.
The altercation was witnessed by the bass table where Cameron sat between Ike and Mordecai and they laughed together from the other side of the room.
"Cameron's gonna hate this next challenge!" Ike commented jokingly.
"Why is that?"
"He'll be fine," Mordecai reassured, "Just don't try to baby out and say you have a fake doctor's note like last time."
Ike noticed Cameron look over to his friend in concern and interjected, "Well hey who's to say he didn't have one."
Mordecai rolled his eyes, "Whatever."
CONFESSION
Ike: Cameron and I are tight. Uhh… I guess we're looking out for each other.
Cameron: Okay so I might've told Ike I was trans but he's cool with it. I'll admit, I felt bad for harping on him but also, I felt like I could trust him.
END
After breakfast, the contestants all met by the campfire where they found Bobby with the trunk of paintball guns and antlers.
"So, campers," Bobby started, "Today, as most of you know, we're going deer hunting."
"Aw," Petunia chattered with her team, "I love paintball! We used to shoot the paint at blank canvases and-"
"Save the chat for later," the host interrupted as he grabbed a paintball gun, "While this would be a great time for me to tell you who's shooting today but… I'm leaving the choice up to our advantage." Junior slowly stepped over by the host as he was motioned to.
"Oh great, we're leaving our fate in the hands of a guy whose head is in a different layer of the atmosphere." Addison complained loudly.
"Shut up Addison."
"Okay, Big-mouth," Bobby instructed, "Each team will have three shooters and four deer. For your advantage, you get to not only pick your team's hunters, you'll also be picking for the Bass." Junior looked at the Bass, then over to his own team.
"Okay, easy," He decided, "For my team it will be me, Landon and Petunia… and the Bass will be Cameron, Mavis and Jacey." Rosie rolled her eyes and the Bass team looked at each other worryingly. The blurred sound of the groups complaining filled the area.
CONFESSION
Rosie: Last thing I wanted was to be a stupid deer! I don't know how hard it is to get paint out of hair… but I don't want to find out.
Mordecai: We're screwed. Jacey better be a good shot because there's no way Cameron ever even held a gun and I doubt Mavis could make it half way through the forest without giving up.
END
"You seriously had to make your dumb self a shooter when I have the better aim." Rosie nagged as she ran over to her teammate, "Not that you cared."
"Rosie I can't reason with you but listen, I am a few hairs shy of being two meters tall. I wasn't going to make myself a deer when I can be seen so easily."
Addison butted in "Oh yeah, well what about me then!"
"Addison, do I really have to explain myself with this one…"
CONFESSION
Junior: Anything I say or do will be picked apart by my team. I'm just trying to look out for them. What is it… 4 more challenges until merge?
END
Bobby continued with instructions over the sound of the complaining teams, "The rules will be slightly different this time. Around the wooded area you will see a caution tape border. This will prevent people from traveling outside of the woods I.E the cliff or the kitchen, if you are caught outside the boundary you will be disqualified."
Petunia sighed, "Please don't talk about kitchens…"
"Oh, and Big-mouth, one more thing," Bobby tossed him the small spray bottle that the gophers were much too familiar with, "that should help with the bears. Alright deer, you'll be given a 15-minute head start. So…. let's go."
The eight deer headed into the forest with their respective teams. The gopher team went off as a group where the bass stayed close to the edge.
"Hey Ike," Mordecai teased, "Which one of them do you think will get shot first?"
Zarra turned around and glared back at them, "You could actually try to win ya know?"
"Whatever. Just go babysit Malik for a few hours!"
CONFESSION
Zarra: Mordecai is still gunning for me because he knows he won't be able to control me after the merge. It doesn't intimidate me though.
Ike: A part of me likes hanging out with Mordecai but sometimes I wish he'd just drop his feud with Zarra. Cameron's right about it being better when the team actually gets along.
END
The gophers walked to the middle of the area when Addison froze behind them over a patch of soft soil.
"Idea!" Addison shouted to the group, "We should dig a hole and cover it so we can hide out. That way the Bass won't find us."
"What so in case they do find us they can take us all out at once?" Rosie countered.
"Obviously Rosie you don't understand the idea of a fox hole."
CONFESSION
Addison: I'm a very capable person okay? I have to set boundaries though… walking around a forest trying not to get shot is not something I can do. Sadly, I don't have the field of vision for this.
END
Junior, Landon and Petunia followed the trail into the woods. The boys walked ahead and heard a thud on the path behind them. They looked back and saw their fellow shooter laying on the ground.
"Okay Petunia we're leaving without you." Landon deadpanned.
"Stop," Junior sighed before squatting over to help his sick teammate, "Maybe try to balance out the fish candy with like… there's blueberries around right?" He lifted her off the path and she took off slowly in the other direction.
"Alright so you gotta plan?" Landon asked. Junior rubbed his chin and looked around the area. He walked over to a pile of tall grass and started to pull up the stalks.
"We can make a trap," He explained, "We can weave a cage with the grass and tie them into the trees. That way we can check the traps for bass and shoot them."
Landon sighed, "Dude, that's way too much work. If you want to do that… have fun. But I'm gonna go off alone." Landon continued on the path as Junior watched him disappear in the trees.
CONFESSION
Junior: I am no wilderness survivor but one thing I do know is that I don't do well on my own in general. I don't like being by myself. Especially not in the woods.
END
Cameron, Mavis and Jacey head out into the woods in a pact. They sat in a circle by a patch of dirt to structure a plan.
Cameron grabbed a stick and drew out the shape of the boundary, "If one of us takes the left, the right and the middle, we can cover more ground."
Mavis shrugged, "Sounds good to me."
He nodded, "Jacey you on board?"
"Well," She chuckled, "I just want to run around and shoot everyone."
Cameron sighed, "Jacey, I think we should be strategic. I -" He fell backwards as Jacey pulled her gun on him. Mavis dropped her jaw as their teammate burst out laughing and ran away from the group. He lifted himself back up and sighed as Mavis covered her mouth and chuckled.
CONFESSION
Cameron: Today I learned that getting shot in the chest with a paintball at two feet does kinda hurt. Also… Jacey's kinda crazy. I fear the idea of her and Sara in a room together.
END
Petunia sluggishly sauntered through the woods when she caught a glimpse of her teammates throwing soil over the path. She made her way over to them and sat near the hole on a stump.
"Whatcha doing?" She asked curiously while leaning over the hole.
"Addison wanted us to dig a fox hole," Juliette responded as she stepped out of the hole.
"Hey maybe I could protect you guys. Just lurk around the area."
"Oh perfect." exclaimed Sophie.
Addison poked his head out of the hole and interjected, "Well, just don't give us away."
"Yep," She nodded before standing up suddenly, "Oh I was going to go get some blueberries first. Be right back!"
CONFESSION
Petunia: I'm so lucky that I have such a strong bond with my team. We always stick out for each other! I bet the Bass don't have anything like that.
END
"I feel like we need a better strategy than just wandering around in the woods."
Mordecai stated as he and Ike walked around the boundary.
"We just have to avoid getting shot, right?" Ike reassured, "Shouldn't be too hard, I have pretty good reflexes so if a paintball comes your way don't worry about it." Mordecai walked over to some brush and peered through the leaves. He waved over Ike quietly and they both glanced over at their shooter friend.
"Cameron," Ike called him over quietly, "you should walk with us." Cameron wandered over to them and they noticed the travesty that happened prior.
"You seriously got shot? By who? " Mordecai complained as Cameron turned around.
"... Jacey."
"Luckily, I'm prepared for this," Mordecai reached in his pocket and pulled out a large t-shirt, "change into this one that way, it looks like you were never shot."
Cameron glared at the bunched-up shirt in his hand, "Uhh… isn't this cheating?"
"Who cares," Mordecai encouraged, "besides, you're not even a deer."
CONFESSION
Cameron: Cheating? Whatever, I mostly bribe my siblings to do my chores and take credit for it. But I am not putting on Mordecai's crusty ass shirt in the middle of the forest no sir!
END
"Maybe we should save it for if one of us gets shot." Ike suggested, breaking the tension.
"Good point." Mordecai stuffed the shirt back in his pocket and the three of them continued on the trail.
Jacey was skipping across the path as she heard the sound of a nearby scream. She followed the sound down the dirt trail where she found one of her competitors hanging from a large tree.
She looked up at him and squinted, "Ohh you're that gopher boy?"
"Yeah yeah," Landon whinged "Can you let me down? I dropped my gun." Jacey dug through the leaves and picked up the gopher's paintball gun.
"Hey I'm dual handed!"
"What? No! Jacey you can't have-" Landon shouted before his competitor started to open fire on him.
"Bye-bye!" She ran off and disappeared in the trees as Landon sat alone in the trap dripping with paint.
CONFESSION
Landon: Junior's gonna get his.
END
The gopher deer sat in a little circle in their underground bunker. They sat in an awkward silence while Rosie peeked out to look for Petunia.
Sophie nudged her teammate to break the silence, "So Juliette, where were you originally from?
She muttered quietly, "I'm from Brazil. I lived on the west side of Rio most of my life."
"Oh, wow I bet it was sweet! That's where they have the parties right?" Addison chimed in.
"Actually, I never really got to see the city much…"
"Guys," Rosie interrupted, "You realize how ridiculous it is that we're all sitting in a hole! Petunia hasn't even come back yet! We're just waiting to get shot."
Sophie stepped out of the bunker and looked down at her team, "Don't give up you guys I'm sure she hasn't gone off too far. Also, I bet I can find Junior and Landon as well."
"I'm going with you." Rosie stated as she followed her out.
CONFESSION
Juliette: There's a lot of dynamic going on with the team. Originally the girls planned on sticking together but I feel like after Ivonne left Sophie and Rosie just kinda do their own thing. I'm glad I have Petunia though. She's been by my side from the beginning.
END
Ike, Cameron and Mordecai continued to wander through the wood as a group. Cameron stepped a little way in front of them causing his foot to connect to the vines below. Ike pulled Mordecai back as Cameron screamed from being lifted into the tree.
"What just happened!" Cameron hollered from above.
"Hang on Cam!" Ike encouraged, "I'll get you down." While Ike tried to climb up the tree, Mordecai ripped the vine attached to the cage causing Cameron to fall back to the ground.
"Ow," Cameron grunted, "Hey thanks man."
Mordecai rolled his eyes, "Yeah whatever."
Ike slid down the tree and chimed in, "Who's building booby traps?"
"One of those nasty gophers probably."
CONFESSION
Ike: It's nice to see Mordecai and Cameron getting along. I'm riding in the middle. Like, I know Cam would never agree to join an alliance with Mordecai but I'm not telling him that. It's peace when everybody's in the dark.
END
Rosie and Sophie set out around the edge of the boundary in the heavy woods. In a quick reaction Sophie grabbed Rosie as a paintball came flying their way and landed by their feet.
"Wait… that's the Gopher paint." Rosie noticed before looking up into the trees to see her fellow teammate sitting in the branches, "Dangit Junior!"
"Sorry," He hollered from above, "I haven't seen anyone in a while. Have you run into the others?"
"Addie and Juliette and sitting in a hole in the middle of the woods." Rosie groused.
"Ha," Junior joked, "A couple of sitting ducks. I guess I could go find them." Junior climbed down from the tree and met with Rosie at the bottom. They looked over and saw Sophie peeking into the bushes.
"Junior, what is this?" She asked as he hurried over. Hidden in the brush was a large woven cage attached to the tree above.
"Oh… watch out for booby traps."
"How many giant traps did you make?" Rosie asked, surprised.
"Maybe 6… I've been bored."
"6?!" Rosie yelled, "It's been three hours!"
"Well I made the first one and then all of a sudden I had like 3 more done and-"
"Okay okay enough." Rosie went on, "we lost Petunia and need you to come protect the fox hole."
Junior agreed, "Maybe it is best if we huddle together. Have you guys seen Landon?"
Sophie looked at Rosie and hesitated, "We thought he was with you…"
"That jerk ditched me a while back… maybe we'll run back into him."
CONFESSION
Rosie: Everyone on my team kinda confuses me. Like I'm so used to everyone being laid back and then all of a sudden Junior just makes a bunch of traps and Petunia just eats expired food. How am I supposed to understand people if they're not consistent?
END
"Malik," Zarra restated as she walked with her fellow teammate, "for the last time, Mavis doesn't like you like that."
"I know that…" He deflected, "I'm just trying to change her mind. Or maybe let her let me pretend." The two of them paused as they heard a voice above them.
"Hey you stupid deer. You guys wanna let me down!" Landon shouted from the trap.
Zarra smirked and nudged her teammate, "Malik, get a load of this guy."
"Wow he's in a basket in the sky! What a loser!" Malik laughed.
"Shut up!"
Zarra inspected the ground and noticed vines sticking up, "Tripwires?"
"Yeah, if you see a tall kid with a bun make sure to sock him for me." Landon gibed.
"Oh, these are gopher traps," Zarra shrugged, "I guess our work's cut out for us Malik. See ya Landon." The two bass continued on the path as Landon yelled for them to come back.
CONFESSION
Zarra: Maybe it was cold to not help the poor kid but I can't help but worry. Mordecai would be the type of person to try to lose on purpose. And our team could use the help.
END
Addison and Juliette sat in the bunker waiting for their teammates to return. Juliette peered out and noticed Petunia covered in blueberries and slowly heading their way. She stood over the opening and stared down at her friend.
"Petunia wait…"
"Jules?" Petunia muttered as she dropped to the ground over the covering, "Guys, I'm so sick…"
Addison fretted as he watched her slouch into the hole, "Please don't puke in here, please don't puke in here…" Rosie, Sophie and Junior found their way over to the fox hole and witnessed the horrific scene unfold.
CONFESSION
Petunia: Rule of thumb, never eat anything you know is over two decades old. All in all, I feel a lot better. I hope Addison and Juliette don't hate me.
END
"Petunia no!" Rosie cried as they walked over to the foxhole. Sophie reached out and pulled Juliette and Addison out of the hideout.
"I see you guys are having fun" Junior commented jokingly.
"Oh, shut it!" Addison shot. The group of teens stood together as they were alarmed by the footsteps approaching them.
"I thought I smelled some stinky badgers." Jacey teased as she stood across from the bunker.
"How'd she get two guns…"
"Time for you all to die. Bye-bye." She opened fire on the team drenching them in both Bass and Gopher paint. She cheered as she shot with both guns but was halted by the sound of an alarm.
"Hunters and deer, it's time to return back to base!" Bobby announced.
The Bass team made it back to camp first and watched as the Gopher team carried Petunia out of the woods.
"What happened to her?" Bobby asked as they finally arrived.
"She couldn't handle the eat off." Addison chuckled as Petunia curled up in the grass.
"Looks like the gophers had a hard time keeping clean." Bobby noticed, "Man I could've swore there were 7 of you."
"Wait where's Landon?" The teams stayed quiet as the sound of the deserted camper yelling for help echoed through the woods. Zarra and Malik looked back at each other and laughed as the gopher team ran back into the woods to find him.
"Meet me by the campfire tonight gophers!"
CONFESSION
Rosie: Honestly, I wish I could've voted them all out. Junior made those stupid traps, Addison dug the foxhole, Landon dropped his gun and Petunia gave us away. I can't wait for the stupid merge.
END
As the night fell the Gophers went back to the campfire and met with Bobby.
"Wow Gophers you guys have been seriously sucking lately." He joked, "This is, what, your third loss in a row? Maybe it's a curse."
"Whatever," Rosie sighed, "Let's get this over with."
"I'm sure you all know the drill by now. If I call your name, come up and claim your marshmallow. The first marshmallow goes to Juliette." Juliette stood up and patted her red-haired friend on the back before collecting her security. The others sat anxiously as the names were called:
"Junior… Rosie… Addison… Sophie…"
Landon and Petunia sat alone and looked back at each other nervously.
"Well Landon… your team kinda hung you out to dry." The host teased.
He muttered, "Very funny…"
"And Petunia, you gave your team's hideout away only after puking on them."
She chuckled, "I'll never look at fish tails the same way again."
Bobby lifted up the tray and pointed at the teens, "And the final marshmallow goes to… Landon."
Petunia stood up shocked, "What?"
"A ticket for the dock of shame has your name on it." She slouched over sadly and walked over to the dock.
"Oh, bye Petunia!" Juliette cried out as she ran over to her to say goodbye. The rest of the team followed and surrounded her.
"Sorry you got defeated by some fishtails." Junior comforted.
She chuckled, "Something to train for next time." She said her goodbyes and made her way to the boat. The team watched as she disappeared into the distance.
Rosie stood with the other on the dock, "Let's make a promise to not end up here next week." The six of them agreed and went back to the cabin for the night.
"Will the Gopher team ever score another win? Will Cameron get sucked into Mordecai's alliance? Will Malik ever take a hint? Find out next time!"