Total Drama Camp

by iwashere01

Title says it all. Twenty-two campers participate for a big prize! Stay tuned to find out who will be the winner of this competition! Only featuring Camp Camp characters.

2. The key to success is winning!

Hey guys, after a long wait I bring to you the second chapter of TDC! I just want to tell you that at the beginning of each chapter I'll list the participants of each team just to help you remember who is in each one. The eliminated ones will be removed as the story goes on. Now, let's begin!

Grumpy Bears: Nikki, Ered, Snake, Sasha, Max, Erin, Petrol, Hwan, Nurf, Preston and Brian.

Dizzy Deer: Harrison, Scotty, Jermy, Space Kid, Dang, Vera, Tabii, Pikeman, Dolph, Nerris and Neil.

---

The key to success is winning!

All the campers were sleeping quietly in their tents. It was around 6 AM and clearly no one was planning to get up yet. The sun was just rising and its first rays started to illuminate the counselors' cabin through the windows shutters. This disturbed a certain moody girl who groaned as they reached her face.

"Ugh, can you close the curtains? It's too early to be up already." She demanded, her eyes still closed. There was no response. "Okay David, please, can you close the curtains?" Nothing again. "Seriously David, do you want me mad before I even get up?! I swear I'm gonna..." She realised her roommate wasn't in his bed. "Oh God, what is he doing now?" She face palmed.

Meanwhile, the happy counselor was in the kitchen pouring milk on a glass while humming the Camp Camp song. Whoever watching him would assert he didn't even sleep because of the merry mood he had at this time of the day. Aside from his commonly joyful personality, the fact that today was the beginning of the very first challenge filled him with eagerness, and today was no exception of stop being himself. So he decided to have breakfast early and put everything in order to tell the kids their new challenge, not without checking something on his phone first.

"Oh that's great!" He exclaimed while looking at it. He took a sip from the glass and put it on the table. Then he started to type on his phone.

The doors of the mess hall opened and a red-haired woman entered stretching her arms widely and yawning. "What are you doing?" She asked still a bit sleepy.

He turned his sight from the device. "Good morning Gwen! I'm just settling everything for today's challenge."

"What will it be about?" She asked while entering the kitchen to make coffee.

"Oh well, I'd rather tell you when everyone is awake." He continued typing. "Done!" He locked his phone and left it on the table.

"Okay, I'm not that interested in knowing so though." She sat next to him and drank from her steaming mug. "Do I have to do something for this challenge?"

"Not much, but first we are going to give the kids a wonderful gift!"

"The competition haven't started yet and you are going to gift them?"

David put on a sad face. "Well, I'll feel sorry for the camper who will be leaving today so I thought about giving all of them an early present." His phone vibrated. "Oh, that must be the freight." He answered the call. "Hello. Yes, it is me. So what time will you arrive...?" His voice faded out as he exited the mess hall.

Gwen was left with an inquiring look. "What is he up to?"

---

Two hours later, Max and Neil were sleeping soundly in their tent when a loud noise from an engine woke them up.

"Ahh! What the fuck is that?" Max said as the tent was shaking violently as if it was an earthquake.

"Oh no! The volcano is going to erupt!" Neil screamed and exited the tent still in his sleeping bag. He tripped and his face met the ground sharply. The 'camera' zooms out to show us four trailers hitched to four trucks which were around the campsite. Some of the children were already outside still in their pajamas.

"Ve are being attacked!" Dolph gasped.

"Quick comrades, battle stations!" Vera called her friends. Suddenly, Dang and Hwan appeared from her sides in attack positions. She took out a conveniently huge gun and aimed it to the trucks.

"Wait kids, don't panic!" David called approaching them.

"What is this all about?" The illusionist camper asked rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning campers! I just wanted to give you this present as a thanks for participating in the competition!"

"Woo man, those are really nice trailers! Are we going to film a movie or something?" *ba dum tss* Scotty played a set of drums.

"Hahaha, good one Scotty!" David laughed. "Say goodbye to your old tents because these are your new bedrooms for the rest of the competition!" He cheered.

"Woah, it's a miracle." Nurf's eyes lit up. "I can't believe you just did something good for once."

"Ohmygosh, I'm so picking my bed right now!" Sasha tried to enter to one of the trailers but in the rush of opening it quickly, she bumped against the door.

"Not so fast lady!" David spoke. "Why don't you guys go for breakfast first and I will tell you about your challenge there?"

A few minutes later, the campers were gathered in the mess hall having their first meal of the day. The counselors and Campbell were sitting on a separate table talking about the last details of the upcoming challenge.

"Everything is set as agreed David." The founder of the camp told him with an uninterested look on his face.

"That's fantastic! What about the traps Gwen?" David turned to his co-worker.

She was holding a clipboard as she enumerated the things she had done from the list. "Well, the bear traps are located in each spot you mentioned, the holes are dug around the camp within 500 feet from here, the cages will activate when any camper step on the ropes nearby and a horde of raccoons is awaiting in the entrance of the cave. Don't you think all of this is a little dangerous?" She looked at him with concern, for the first time now.

"Well, that's what the TV programs do in their challenges and no one has been severely injured, I guess." He raised his palms and smiled, not really convinced of his own words at all.

"You are...changing a little..." She raised an eyebrow. Indeed, something about this competition thing was changing the redhead's behavior.

"Don't you worry CBFL! It's just a little motivation for them to get into the game!" He exclaimed.

"You call that motivation?" Campbell questioned.

Quartermaster walked out from the kitchen and sat next to them with a plate on his hands; it consisted of a plain dying fish still bouncing with a bubbly poisonous beverage. "Hey you, the gay one." He pointed at David. "I've already done my part." He proceeded to rip the head of the fish out with his mouth. The three of them just looked at him disgustedly.

"Hehe...alright Quartermaster...thank you..." He laughed nervously.

"Man, how long will he take to tell us that stupid challenge?" Max grumbled.

"I don't know but I want to kick some butts in it!" Nikki exclaimed with her mouth full of food. "What do you think is it going to be about?"

"Nikki, clearly we'll have to find the keys to open the trailers and that's it." He said confidently.

"We'll see about that." She dug her face on the plate, scattering food on Max's face.

On the other table, Neil was eating with his team, feeling a bit lonely. Space Kid approached him and tried to start a conversation about anything.

"Hey Neil, what's up?" He waved.

"Hey Space Kid, nothing much. Just thinking how to get along with this group." He sighed.

"Oh come on, it isn't as if we were complete strangers. Say, did you know that a solar ellipse is coming right up this afternoon?"

"Don't you mean a solar eclipse?" The science geek raised a brow.

"Uh, no. I didn't say anything about clips..."

"Wha-...NO, Space Kid! I didn't mean...ugh, you know what? Forget about it..." A few seconds of silence passed.

"I did watch some clips of solar ellipses though." The little astronaut smiled.

Neil let out a loud sigh. "I can't help but feeling a bit odd here."

"I wouldn't say that buddy." Scotty appeared from nowhere. "The odd ones here are them." He pointed at the children from the other table.

"Jesus, don't begin with your stupid jokes." The brown-haired boy waved a dismissive hand in front of him.

"Why is that Scotty?" Space Kid asked curiously.

"Oh well, they are our odd-versaries, aren't they?" The clown scattered confetti all over the two boys. The helmeted kid chuckled; he seemed to be the only one in camp to actually enjoy his puns. Neil spat a handful of colorful paper shreds with a sourpuss face. "Hopefully he won't last much."

The comedian zapped from there, leaving a cloud of dust which made Neil cough repeatedly. Pikeman and Jermy were eating their breakfast when Scotty's head slipped from behind causing the senior scout to freak out and fall from his seat.

"What do you want?" He stood up and dusted himself off.

"Oh nothing, just checking your patches." He poked Pikeman's sash with sparkling eyes. "Ohh, I need those."

"Stop touching me dude!" The Wood scout pushed him violently.

"Come on, don't get mad! Let's just patch things up." He joked again.

"Ha, ha, ha..." Jermy laughed between gasps. "I like your jokes, buddy." He spat food on Scotty's face while patting his shoulder.

"Cool...but I hate the kind of audience like you." He grimaced.

"Do another one!"

"Eh, maybe later." The comedian left in a huff.

"Hmm, how interesting..." Pikeman put a finger on his chin. "It seems you manage to disgust even that annoying clown."

"What..." Jermy turned to him absent-mindedly.

"Nothing you could understand, my dear companion." He put a hand on his shoulder, a grin drawn on his face.

Scotty left his team's table to join the other one. Preston noticed him approaching and let the fork fall from his hand.

"Ah! There he comes!" He shouted.

"Who?" Nurf asked, his beloved friend Brian next to him with an annoyed look.

"The...the clown!"

"Fuck, I gotta take this on my own." He stood up and put in front of his friend. "Don't be afraid Kimchi, this asshole won't touch you."

Brian looked at Preston who was shivering and raised a brow. "Are you afraid of clowns or what?"

"N-no..." He mumbled. "It's just, clowns...are the worst performers on the planet." He raised his fist with anger. "I just can't stand them."

[Flashback plays]

"When I was on first grade, there was going to be a play in my school and I was so excited about it that I immediately singed up, without knowing...it was going to be a terrible nightmare." A little Preston is shown rehearsing on a stage among other performers like jugglers, acrobats, magicians and so on.

"A bee is not a bee" Preston said in a cute voice, holding a fake skull in the famous Shakespearean soliloquy position.

"What does that even mean?" Two elder boys dressed in colorful clothes and wigs approached him.

"Um, it's a famous line from...Shakespeare's tragedy called Ham...Ham..." He stuttered.

"Ham? As in food? Hahaha..." Both started to laugh. "That's really stupid kid."

"Hey, you're clowns, aren't you supposed to be funny?" He asked, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Oh yeah, that's right." One of them acknowledged. "You want some fun?"

"Sure!"

"Then gimme that thing you have." He pointed at the skull. The little theater boy handed it to them. "Here, take this one." They gave him another one, barely different. "This one looks more real and it even includes a little surprise."

"Oh wow, thank you." Preston's eyes lit up while holding the new item in both hands. "What's the surprise?"

"Let me help you with that." The clown pulled a string from behind the toy and its teeth began chattering.

"Sweet, thank you guys."

"No need to thank us because you didn't see the funny part yet." The other boy took the skull and put it in Preston's pants.

"Ahhh!" He started to run in circles and screaming, as everyone laughed uncontrollably. One juggler threw a ball to the floor, which made Preston slip out of the stage.

[Flashback ends]

"That sounds something coming from a resentful child who is scared of clowns only because of something two of them made to him." Brian commented.

"I said it's not fear!" Preston shouted angrily. "It's hatred."

"Still, you are generalizing things." The Kentuckian continued. "You consider clowns the worst performers only for what happened to you in the past." Hitting sounds could be heard to what both of them turned to see, it was Nurf holding an upside down Scotty with some bruises on his face. Brian sighed. "I'll take care of this."

"I...said...stop...annoying...my...friend!" The bully warned him between hits against the floor.

Scotty was starting to feel in pain but that couldn't stop his lively mood. "Don't act so grumpy man, I know my jokes are unbearable to you but you're making me feel dizzy, hahaha!" One last hit. "Ouch!"

"Hey man." Brian called.

"It's okay Kimchi, the clown has been defeated." He dusted his hands off.

"Um, you didn't have to do that."

"You may have never experienced his presence but I tell you he is totally insane dude!" He claimed "Every time he comes around and makes a joke, it drives me crazy...everyone!"

The Asian-descent boy ignored his words and approached Scotty lying on the floor. He sighed again and extended his hand to him. The clown widened his eyes, hesitating a bit.

"Are you going to prank on me too?" He asked to his helper.

"Hmm...no." Brian mumbled.

Within a few seconds of doubting, Scotty finally received his help and got up. "Well, thank you. I'm glad not all people here are like him." He glanced at Nurf.

The bully froze up as he contemplated the recent occurrence. "Oh no, he took my friend...he took Kimchi on his side...he already brainwashed..." Nurf thought it over a bit. "...Brian."

"That's the name man." Brian winked. "Not stupid Kimchi label." He left and Scotty followed him with a smile.

"NOOOO!" He fell to his knees and punched the floor fiercely, scattering splinters over the place. "I swear I will fight everyone and everything from now on..." He started to soliloquize. "...to get Brian's friendship back!"

"Oh yeah! That's the spirit of acting Nurf! You got it!" Preston exclaimed.

The bully looked at him pissed. "If I weren't so hurt right now, I would've totally beaten you up for that." The theater boy gulped.

Back to the other team, the two Flower Scouts were observing their teammates with inquiring looks in order to decide which one of them will be part of their alliance.

"Which one of these losers will be our used third member?" Sasha looked back and forth to the group.

"Definitely not Nikki." Erin said.

"Obviously, she knows us the most."

"What about that little gross soldier?" The blue-haired girl pointed at Hwan.

"You said it girl. We won't have any disgusting dirt-lover kid in our alliance."

"The theater guy?"

"No drama queens here."

"Um...the pale kid who claims to be American?"

"I see he hangs out with that stupid clown so no."

"M...Max?"

"Seriously Erin, how stupid can you be to think of him?"

"Yeah, sorry. I ran out of possibilities." She lowered her head.

"That leaves us with the two military scouts." Sasha stared at them.

"You mean Snake and...the big guy?"

"Yeah, I know I said I don't like boys who pretend to be in the army or whatever." She flipped her hair. "But at least we know them from the Summer Social dance."

"Oh yeah...I remember that." Erin scratched her head and looked away.

"I don't think we can communicate with the big guy because I think he's mute." The ginger said. "So the lucky one who will join our little gang is him." She pointed at Snake.

"Wha..."

"Let's go Erin, it's time to make your move on him."

The blue-haired girl widened her eyes and blushed. "What the fuck?!"

Sasha got startled for the sudden outburst. "What is wrong with you?! I said you go get him to join our alliance, that's all."

"Ah, I...got it wrong."

"Why is that?" Then Sasha remembered something, and her eyes went big. "O-M-G, is that what I'm thinking?!" Her friend stepped back. "Please, don't tell me you still have a thing for..."

"What?! Are you nuts girl?" Her cheeks turned a light shade of red.

Sasha was trying to hold herself back, her face about to burst.

"Well...it's not what you think...on the whole." She sighed.

The leader Flower Scout got closer to her friend. "Tell me about it." She giggled.

A few more minutes passed until David finally spoke up again. Everybody hushed as the redhead stood in front of the entrance of the mess hall.

"I hope you had a wonderful breakfast campers because now it's the time for the most exciting challenge you will ever have in a competition like this in your entire life!" He threw his fists in the air as if announcing the best game ever, but...no one made a sound, not even a cough, not even crickets. "Come on Scotty! I expected you to make the cricket sounds." The child just shrugged. "Never mind. Well, firstly, I want to tell you that if anyone feels the urge to confess anything regarding your teammates, your opponents, your day, the challenges or even..."

"*cough*...the counselors...*cough*" Max said.

"...your secrets." He giggled. "...you can do so in the confessional: Quartermaster's shed!"

The groundskeeper widened his eyes at hearing that. He reached to David's spot and took him by the shirt. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU SAY?!" His nostrils moved as he breathed heavily. "I ain't gonna let those damn kids enter my store again, you heard me?!" He violently shook the counselor.

David swung back and forth with a silly smile. "C-calm down, they'll just talk in there...nothing else, I swear."

The old man stopped after a few seconds and lifted his hook just in front of David's face; he looked really threatening. "One thing missing, and you will regret your decision." The counselor nodded in fear.

...

"Hooray! First confession!" Scotty cheers. "To all the viewers, I'll only say that you will laugh your ass off with me! The deerest camper in all Camp Camp!" He winks repeatedly interlacing his fingers.

"Hey!" A grumpy voice comes from outside the store. "Whoever you snot-nosed kid are get the fuck out of there or I'll set the place on fire!"

"Chill QM! Let me have my five minutes of 'flame' here!" He laughs loudly.

...

"I hate David and I hate Cameron Campbell for putting me in this team." Max grumbles. "Not that the other one would be better though."

...

"Whoever had the idea of using this gross place as a confessional booth must have problems when choosing their secret places." Sasha explains. "I mean, where will he or she take their lover to fu-"

...

David scratched his head to relieve the dizziness produced by the shaking, then tried to recall what he was talking about.

"Come on man! Explain the game already!" Nikki's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Ah yes, your first challenge will be a key collecting game!" He returned to being himself again.

"Told you." Max glanced at his turquoise-haired friend.

"Buuut to make it less easy, the keys are not regular keys, they're actually key cards and there is one for each one of you!" He took out an example from his pocket. "As you can see here, all the key cards are signed with your names and pictures of each one of you."

"Hey! Who said you can put photos of us in those?" Tabii asked angrily.

"Yeah, at least I hope you put a good one." Sasha crossed her arms. "Or else, I'll kick you in a place you will regret!"

"The bedroom?" Space Kid asked confused.

"Hey, take it easy kids!" David continued. "We had Cameron Campbell to pick your best photos to put on them!" His former boss waved at them with a wry smile.

"Oh my fucking God..." Max face palmed.

"The cards have been distributed all over the camp including the buildings, caves and holes!"

"Holes?" Neil repeated.

"Oopsie, I said coals!" David snickered.

"That's really dumb of you to say where one of the keys is." The Indian boy said scornfully.

...

"Yeah, I know it wasn't true. I just said that so the other losers go to waste time there." Max explains.

...

"Two of the trailers you saw outside are for both groups of boys from each team, and well, the other ones are for the girls."

"Aw..." The eye-patched blonde girl lowered her head.

"So, the team that gathers the less number of keys loses!" He approached to Max and Nikki, holding their shoulders from behind. "This'll lead them to join the elimination ceremony where they will vote off their chosen one." Then he reappeared from behind Vera's back causing her and Dang to startle. "The unlucky eliminated contestant will have to walk on the disgraceful 'Path of Shame', take the 'Bus of Losers' and leave the camp...FOREVER!" He then paused and let out a little chuckle. "Well, not forever! I've just been wanting to say that someday so bad!"

After David's explanation, the children left to their tents to supply themselves with whatever they might need for the upcoming challenge, or whatever they think they might need.

...

"This is gonna be great!" Nikki says excitedly. "I can't wait to nail this with my friends and spend fun times with whatever we encounter in the forest! Yeah!" She throws her fist in the air.

...

"Huh, this awful place again." Neil looks around the store carefully. "Nothing has changed since the last time I got in here." Now he turns his eyes directly at the camera. "Well, while I'm not completely content about the teams conformation, I'll give it my best shot to win and eliminate every stupid camper. No one here can fight my science expertise and that's all I need to progress in this competition." He says confidently. "Why I am relying on a brainless Wood Scout you might wonder. Well, even though I'm capable of supporting myself in this game, it's a fact everyone needs accompanying in these kind of shows because if not, people will eventually try to kick me out."

...

"Howdy!" Space kid waves, back to the camera. "I just wanted to say hi to mum and dad."

...

"Prepare Americans, I'll slaughter each one of you for what your leader Cameron Campbell has done." Vera points at the camera, threateningly. Then she drops it. "Actually, I'm just talking about beating everyone in the game. My former goals keep in the past."

...

"Alright 'Mr. Illusionist', what kind of magic instruments are you going to utilize in our very first quest?" Nerris asked mockingly to her companion.

"Just the one and only magic wand I've possessed since my very first trick." Harrison looked at it, two pounding hearts replacing his pupils.

"Oh well, that'll help for sure." She said in a sarcastic tone.

"What about you, 'Ms. Sorceress'?" He labeled her too.

"Nothing that a deck of magic cards and a sword can't do."

"Oh the irony! You wanna find key cards with magic cards." Scotty joined their conversation. "If you are so magical as you claim, why don't you make the keys appear right here, right now?" He wiggled his fingers in the air.

Both magic kids stared at each other and nodded with a smile. Harrison waved his wand, shiny sparks came out of it leaving a trace of light directing to Scotty's mouth. A flash covered his entire head for a few seconds only to reveal a strip of tape stuck to his lips.

"Consider yourself lucky Scotty." Harrison poked his big red nose. "Because my intention was to remove your stupid mouth."

"Yeah but still, that will keep him shut at least for a while, hahaha!" The elf-kid concluded.

The prankster observed them leaving happily. He muttered something behind the tape but it wasn't really inaudible. Jermy, who was near him although off-screen, ripped the tape out of his mouth so aggressively it caused him a tremendous pain.

"YAOUCH!" In the distance, a flock of birds flew away from the trees due to the deafening scream.

"Sorry but I couldn't hear what you said." Jermy spoke in his characteristic voice.

Scotty's lips were colored in a pinkish red, in the same shape as the tape. "Dammit man, you didn't need to do that." He rubbed the irritated area. "I said I hate those motherfu-" He stopped, a thought came to his mind. "Hey, buddy..." He patted Jermy's shoulder. The latter picking his nose which was making squishy sounds. "Nobody here seems to like you, right?"

"Of course not, I have friends who love me!"

"Who?"

"Well, there is this wolf back at my camp which comes to visit me every time I empty my stomach on the floor to eat more. You know, food at the Wood Scouts camp is delicious! Then there are the squirrels which come to fight us, they're really fun to play with. Oh and also there are the ants on my bed! I like how they march around it picking all the leftovers..."

"Oh, how...adorable of them."

"Wait, I know I forgot someone else..." He put a finger on his chin in thought. "Welp, I guess he hasn't come for a while and I can't remember. Too bad for being a friend of mine."

"Okay, forget about those so-called friends." Scotty smirked. "Because from now on you have a new one!"

"Really?" Jermy turned his head to both his sides repeatedly. "Who is it?"

"Why, it is me silly!" He half hugged him smiling widely.

"Oh but...are you sure you want to be my friend?" Jermy looked at him directly in his eyes.

"Um...why'd you ask?"

A loud fart could be heard and the awful smell spread in the air. Scotty's eyes watered in disgust and, almost unconsciously, his left hand reached his nose.

"Ugh, well...we can handle that, no worries!"

"I didn't mean that." Jermy scratched his butt. "Oh wait, there's more where that came from."

"Nooo!"

---

"Hey Nikki." The extreme sports girl called. "Wanna nail this challenge with me?" She had a pair of dark sunglasses on her hands.

Nikki hung her mouth open and without noticing she started to walk towards her.

"No!" She was pulled by her arm from behind. "She's not going with you." Max stared at Ered furiously. "She's with me."

Nikki kept walking though not making any progress because of her friend's tight grip.

"Go find someone else you can use for your convenience."

"Yeah, like you haven't done that before." She returned him the stare, glancing at Dolph twice as an attempt to recall him what he had done to the little painter with the candy.

"C'mon Max! Why don't you hang out with her at least once?!" Nikki asked, getting a bit angry.

"No, that will never happen!" He swung his arms in the air. "You know what she did to you that time, remember?"

"Well yeah, I'm not stupid." She crossed her arms. "...and it was just a game, you didn't think we were taking over the camp, did you?"

"Ugh Nikki, for the love of..." He face palmed before finishing the phrase.

"Okay Nikki, if you can't decide your things by yourself then I don't need you on my side anymore." Ered threw the sunglasses away and they hit the ground, breaking into pieces.

Nikki stood there, feeling disappointed of herself. She lowered her head and rubbed her arm. Max didn't know what to do or say. Seriously, are they going to take this to that level? He swore to fucking God this was too much for being the first day of the competition. He attempted to comfort Nikki after hearing her sniffle a bit. When she felt his hand on her shoulder she immediately turned around and stepped back with a frown.

"Come on Nikki, you're exaggerating. This is still a stupid game...right?" He put an almost fake smile.

After a few seconds she replied. "Why do you always have to mistrust everyone?"

The question hit him but tried to think of a short response. "It's not everyone..."

"Sometimes I wonder how I gained your confidence in me." She started to head to the camp.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"Meh, to the tent. I'm not really in the mood of doing this." She raised her hand as she explained, not even turning back to see him.

Max was left confused. What is he going to do now? Go apologize and tell her to hang out with Ered? Keep his arrogant behavior and continue with the challenge alone? He would have to think about it before doing or saying anything stupid again.

Still with the Grumpy Bears, a pair of military scouts were running through the forest. Yes, they were feeling as if it was some sort of a battle or war, but even though they knew that wasn't real they liked to pretend. Their equipment consisted of paintball guns, grenades and a shield.

"Petrol, how much land have we covered so far?" Snake asked still running.

His friend looked at a little device on his hand and nothing else than a grunt was his response.

"That's a quarter of this camp." He checked a watch on his arm. "Ten minutes since mission has started. You want a little break?"

The big guy nodded with a smile.

"So let's rest in there." He pointed to a huge cavernous hole on a hill. Both of then entered, disappearing in the darkness.

Behind a bush, two girls were observing them as if they were following their steps; but no, it was just a coincidence that Erin and Sasha were hidden in that spot for at least five minutes.

"Shit, I told you someone else would arrive and go into the cave Erin." Sasha smacked the back of her head.

"S-sorry." The blue-haired girl stuttered. "I don't think there is a key in there."

The leader let out an annoyed grunt. "The man clearly said we can search in the cave." She pointed at it with her hand.

"Don't you think he was testing us?" Erin raised her hands with a crooked grin.

"Stop saying nonsense, we're getting in there NOW!"

"Er...shouldn't we wait for them to leave?"

"NO, enough of this Erin. I don't care about your crush, the two of us are going to look for that fucking key card and finish this crappy challenge now, okay?!"

"It's not a fucking crush!" Erin blushed a bit.

"Then what the heck is it?"

"I guess some sort of lingering effect on my heart..."

"Don't start with your stupid sciency bullshit Erin." Sasha shoved her and came out of the big bushy plant. "I love her and all but you're starting to act like Tabii."

Erin watched her friend from behind the bush and suddenly, Petrol and Snake exited the cave running at full speed, knocking Sasha down in the way.

"Yeah man! You have a good sense of orientation, good job finding your key in there!" Snake complimented his friend who was lifting a yellow card in the air. "Woo hoo! Now to open that cabin!" His voice faded out as they abandoned the forest victoriously.

The blue-haired girl approached her fallen friend, looking back to where the boys had gone. Sasha coughed some leaves out of her mouth and came to her feet, dusting her clothes off.

"I told you there are keys in there!" She shouted to her friend.

Erin got startled and turned her eyes. "Well...now that they're gone...we can finally go in!" She said foolishly.

Meanwhile in the Dizzy Deer team, two magic kids were going through the thick forest trying to catch sight of those damn cards. It hasn't been much since they had started to walk around but the intense heat was making it more complicated.

"Oof, I would cast a spell to cool us off but my wand is so sweaty it won't work." Harrison waved the magic stick in the air causing beads of sweat to spout everywhere.

"That's disgusting." Nerris stuck her tongue out in disgust. The magician took his gloves off and threw them away.

"Heey magic dudes." A voice came from somewhere between the trees; both of them turned their heads. "Did you say something about being cool?" Ered slid out of a tree trunk with a couple of bottles of water in her hands. "Here, have these" She tossed the drinks to them.

Nerris caught hers while Harrison's slipped out of his hands thanks to them being wet.

"You have to be prepared for any situation." The blonde-haired girl drank from her own bottle.

"Thanks but...why are you helping us?" Nerris drank too. "We're on different teams."

"Eh, don't really care about that. If I don't help people, what will be of those poor uncool souls?" She pulled a skateboard out of a tree and proceeded to leave. "Anyway, see ya dudes." She gestured 'hang loose' with her fingers and left.

"How would she ride that thing in the middle of the woods?" Nerris raised a brow.

"See, that's why I think she's the only one who can confront me in the challenges. She knows what she do." Harrison commented.

"What are you talking about?" She kept drinking.

"Huh, the pretending game of being nice with everyone and the time you turn your back, bam, she'll stab you."

The sorceress didn't pay him too much attention and, seeing he hadn't picked his bottle up, blinked twice in confusion. "Aren't you gonna drink that?"

He glanced at the fallen plastic container lying on the dirt for a few seconds. "I'd rather not."

On another part of the forest, a certain black-haired boy was wandering around the place, hands in pocket, occasionally kicking pebbles to take his mind off the last bummer. No one hadn't offered to team up with him to search the keys, though he didn't care because he wasn't really looking for his anyway. He stood in front of a large tree when a distorted jarring noise disturbed him. The sound was coming from a loudspeaker somewhere in the woods and a particular well-known cheerful voice could be heard.

"Hello there campers! It is me, David, testing the loudspeakers for the first time!" Max groaned, what else could go wrong now. "It is my pleasure to announce the very first news of the day!" The counselor continued. "I hope you hurry up to find your keys, because we have our first winner about to open the trailer!" Fuck, now he was feeling pressured. "Hooray! Congratulations Petrol! Any words you want to share with us?" Silence. "Okay then! Let's see who will be our second lucky finder!" And with that the voice along with the crackling sounds trailed off.

Well, the game has begun for him. He knew the damn feeling of guilt will keep bugging him onwards but, after hearing the announcement, he realised he didn't want to lose either. He looked up at the tree in front of him and noticed a card stuck between the top branches.

"So much for being an apathetic jerk."

For some odd reason luck was on his side this time, the problem now was how he would reach to the top of that huge tree. If he had Nikki by his side he would have already...no, stop thinking about her now. He caught sight of a pine cone on the ground and an old torn tire on the shore of the lake. Not thinking too much about it, he collected the items and looked over the place for any strong Y-shaped branch.

---

Pikeman and Neil were walking down a path; the former, who had naturally taken the leader role, was commenting on the recent news.

"Oh, I'm so proud of him." The senior scout marched with his hands behind his back, his companion following him. "All the hard work he's done paid off, and I'm giving him a new badge for that achievement back in our camp." He stated. "How are you feeling, soldier?"

"Stop calling me that." Neil glared at him before turning his gaze to his surroundings as if someone was stalking him.

"Quit your fears, no one is going to catch us being this far." Pikeman assured.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." He quivered as some leaves and bushes from his left rustled. "W...why isn't Jermy with us? Didn't you say he was going to help me with...?"

"The girl?" The leader turned back. "There is something more important he's taking care of."

"What? I KEPT your stupid organization's card as long as you KEEP that bitch away from me!" The science camper shook his arms in the air. "What could possibly be he doing?!"

"Well, in fact, I've given him the task of keeping us away of that humorless clown." He raised his finger. "So he won't distract us from looking for our key cards." He explained.

A few meters away behind from there, Jermy and Scotty were walking on the same path, looking around to find the plastic keys.

"Have you spotted anything?" Scotty asked.

"Not yet, sir." His companion had his hand on his forehead while squinting everywhere around them. He rotated 360 degrees until his eyes met a big round red nose. He brought his head back and saw Scotty smiling.

"Hey buddy." The clown called. "What would you do if you find someone else's card?"

"I'll give it to its owner for sure!"

"Yeah, what if it is from the other team?" He smirked.

"I know they are our enemies and from what I've learnt in the Wood Scouts camp, I should hand them over our organization's card so they can join us, but on the other hand mommy taught me to be good with anyone I meet in life, and that means I should give it to whoever the card is from, so that way people love me and..." Jermy kept talking, making Scotty cringe.

"Okay dude, but my point is..." He interrupted him putting a hand on his shoulder. "...wouldn't it be best to hide it so they can't find it?"

"Umm, I think that's against the rules."

"No way! David never mentioned something about not doing it, right?"

Jermy nodded breathing heavily through his mouth.

"So, when you see ANY card from ANYONE..." He stressed those two words. "...be sure to point it out to me, okay man?"

"Alright...what will you do?"

"Oh I'll go see how the others are coming along."

"And how do I call you?"

The clown boy handed him a hand horn. "Just blow this and I'll be with you in a matter of seconds!"

"Oh alright." The chubby kid took it. "Please don't take too long doing that because I've been told to watch you until the challenge finishes."

"What the...oh wait, really?" He smirked devilishly once again. "May I know who told you that?"

"Of course, it was.."

"Oh never mind, what kind of stupid question was that...I mean it's obvious haha." He waved as he started to run forwards. "Don't worry dude, it'll be quick!"

"Oh no..." Jermy said in a low voice. "...what have I done..."

"Vhat's ze problem?" Dolph came walking from behind.

"I've already lost the horn he gave me!"

Back with Harrison and Nerris, both magic campers were still searching thoroughly albeit being exhausted. The girl was starting to feel a bit sleepy as well which her fellow camper clearly noticed.

"I can't feel my feet." She let out a long yawn.

"Don't give up Nerris, if my calculations are correct our prize is close at hand." He encouraged.

"What are you talking about?" She spoke at a really slow pace.

Harrison started to look around when he spotted a card hanging from a piece of rope joining two branches from two different trees. It was really high for him to climb, besides he wasn't that much of a athletic guy to do so. Seeing the state his fellow was in clearly answered his doubt about if she could do it. However, he had an ace up his sleeve which was a little risky to perform because of the preparation it demanded to master it.

"Look Nerris, there is a card up there." He pointed at it.

The sorceress barely turned her head to see where his finger was pointing to. Her blurry vision couldn't really make out what she was seeing but her ears were still functioning correctly so she understood his words. Good for them, though how they would reach those high branches she didn't know.

"What do you suggest?" She blinked clumsily.

"I know a spell that could help us." He exclaimed. "The only problem is that I didn't really practice it before, just saw it."

"Ugh...my eyes sting." She complained, ignoring his unknown plan.

"The thing is I can't do it on myself." The illusionist explained. "You'll have to be my assistant."

"Let's just find another one." She said feeling bothered of the situation.

"Remember you said we have to work together to make our winning possible." He reminded. "So please, cooperate with me."

"Ugh, fine Harrison. Do your stupid spell."

"Okay, I will teleport you from your position to the top of one of those trees." He described. "When succeeded, I'll return you here again."

This caused her to open her eyes despite the tiredness. "You do certainly know what you're saying, right?"

"I told you I haven't practiced it much."

"You better not hurt me or else..."

"Please, just trust me." He pleaded. "It is powered by belief!"

"I swear I heard you say that stupidity before..."

Without her full acceptance, Harrison closed his eyes and started to wave his magic wand in the air, again. Well, there is anything else to do with a black and white stick than shaking it anyways. He wasn't a wizard to chant magical spells from a book or something. His powers were always natural and, no matter how much everyone denied it, it was indeed powered by belief. Nerris was standing in front of him quite reluctant but didn't even bothered to escape due to her drowsiness. In fact, she was drooling and swinging in her spot, her eyes were half closed and her arms hanging down. Without warning, Harrison's eyes shone in a bright white and a big force of incandescent light came from his hands, making the wand to be tossed far away; the light engulfed his sleepy companion entirely. It was put such force that he unconsciously stepped back, walking on an almost invisible thin rope which made a clanging noise came from the flashy light. Before the light dissipated completely, Harrison wiped his sweaty forehead, proud of his abilities. As it faded out, the revelation of the image presented before him made his mouth hang more open than he thought it could. Nerris was asleep in a fetal position, trapped in a huge steel cage, snoring lightly.

"What the fuck happened?!" He put his hands on both sides of his head in anger. "I didn't mean to do that!"

Meanwhile, Max succeeded on recreating a slingshot with the things he had collected. He stretched the elastic strip as much as he could to check its elasticity, which he managed to do out of the tire, cutting a part of it with a sharp rock; David would be so proud of him. After the testing, he took the pine cone and proceeded to eject it with all his might. Closing his left eye to gain more aim, he let loose the string, launching the projectile at such speed it cut down some branches of the tree on its way, making a bunch of leaves to fall rustlingly. Luckily, it hit where he wanted. His eyes followed the trajectory of the key card falling until it landed at his feet. He picked it up and inspected it only to realize it wasn't his but Nikki's. How coincidental...and fucked up.

...

"When you try not to think about something or someone, fucking life always tries to remind you of it every damn second!" Max exclaims furiously.

...

"Attention campers! We have our second winner already in her cabin!" David was heard in the loudspeakers.

"Sup, dudes." Ered spoke through it too.

"Dammit, two of them finished the challenge." Neil grumbled. "We gotta move faster!"

"Hmm..." Pikeman tapped his chin in thought. "...then let's search on the lake coastline, there might be some buried in the sand."

Both of them departed from the forest without knowing Scotty was following them quietly. "You think you can send that disgusting kid as your bait to distract me, eh?" He whispered, a smirk forming on his face. "Unfortunately for you, I have other plans in mind for him...and for you."

After a short stroll throughout the dense green mass, the kids arrived to the coast. "Here we are." The leader scout mumbled. "It would be better if you take the task of digging, my fellow camper."

"What? Why?"

"I'm guiding you, am I not?"

The science kid sighed. "Alright." Before he began to do the job, he blinked twice and turned his eyes to his companion. "How am I supposed to do it genius?"

"I don't know, you're the smartass here." Pikeman crossed his arms, moving away.

Suddenly, they heard some giggles echoing from the forest. They seemed to be approaching them in any way as the echoes sounded much closer. Neil gulped and glanced at every direction around him, his forehead started to sweat and his body shuddered as if he were in a horror movie. The redhead just raised a brow, also looking around the place.

"Is that the girl stalking you?" The stupid question made Neil's pupils to shrunk in fear.

"AHHH!" He dashed off, leaving a cloud of sand behind.

"No, Neil!" Pikeman followed him, trying to catch up with him.

"Hehehe." A shadowy figure slid out of a tree and it revealed as Scotty who had a recorder in his hand. "That should keep them away for a while."

...

"I failed all of my friends..." Jermy looks down. "First, I stepped on the ants on my cabin and now I lost Scotty's toy. He'll be really mad when he finds out!"

...

Jermy was sitting on a tree trunk, drawing something on the dirt with a stick, when he heard Dolph cry.

"Gahh! Tzat hurts!" He came on-screen with several bee's stings all over his face but with a smile anyways. He held a card on his hand, covered in a sticky yellowish substance. "Finally, mine key card is here." He shook it on the air, trying to call Jermy's attention.

"Good for you..."

"But now I can't release from zis viscous liquid, blegh." He agitated his hand to get rid of it.

"Wait, is that...honey?"

Jermy's eyes lit up. He stood up and slowly walked towards Dolph, drooling in the process. When he reached his hand, he licked it while his eyes were going nuts due to the excitement of tasting that natural candy. The German kid froze at seeing such disgusting thing and couldn't even utter a word. Having finished the tasting, he smacked his lips and let loose Dolph's arm.

"Yum sweet..." He hummed with his eyes closed. Then he opened them again and found his teammate quaking by the upheaval recently experienced. "Now you're free!"

"Please don't puke, please don't puke, please don't puke..." Dolph remembered that nauseous sensation you feel when you are about to throw up, which seemed to scare him. "I HATE PUKING!" His eyes dilated.

"Where did you get that from?" Jermy asked excitedly before catching sight of a honeycomb on the ground with bees flying around. "Oh, there it is." He continued his way to it, carelessly.

Meanwhile, after what felt like hours of searching in a dark and cold cave, Sasha and Erin decided to give up and rest in its entrance.

"That was a fucking waste of time." Sasha spat. "I thought we were going to find at least one!"

"I was right then..."

"Yeah, but if we had gone first at least we could've find their card and hide it or whatever!" Her face turned red in anger.

"Calm down girl, we have plenty more time until everyone finds theirs." Erin assured.

"Attention, attention!" David sang. "We've got our third lucky finder, Space Kid!"

"Ugh, I can't believe that stupid kid found it before me!" The leader stamped her right foot repeatedly like a little child.

"Oh wait, this is not your key card, Space Kid." His voice interrupted again.

Now the camera changes to the campsite. "Uh, whose is it then?" The astronaut scratched his fishbowl...yeah.

"See it yourself." David moved it closer to his face, causing his eyes to squint so as to see it clearly. "It's Sasha's."

Back with the Flower Scouts. "Did you hear that?!" Erin gasped.

Sasha quivered, her rage about to burst. "That...little...shit..." She muttered.

"Do you know what this means campers?" He continued. "Why yes! The participant who brings here a card that isn't theirs buuut someone else's automatically make that ONE to finish the challenge!"

The girl stopped.

"Oh, and also they lose all chances to look for their own!" He finished explaining. "A rule I should've mentioned earlier haha, but that somehow makes it more entertaining!"

"Aww..." Space Kid lowered his head and walked out of his sight.

"Huh..." After hearing David's 'new' rule, Max started to gather some thoughts. "In that case..." He locked eyes on the card in his hands and, after a few seconds, started to run, heading to the camp.

"Sasha, that means you win!" Erin exclaimed.

Her friend just posed and pursed her lips, resting her arms behind her head. "Yep, that's me."

"Well, now you can help me find my card." A smile formed on her face.

"Phew, that was tiring...but yes, I will help you with that..." She rolled her eyes and pretended to wipe sweat from her forehead.

Suddenly, a loud sonorous horn-like sound was heard which caused not only the girls to startle but a hoard of raccoons to be waken up and annoyed. In only one second flat, the animals rounded them threateningly and growled, making both girls bolt out of there only to be chased by them.

In another area, Scotty was planning whom to ruin their game when the same noise came to his ears. He instantly recognized it as the sound of the horn he gave to Jermy.

"Oh, I hope that guy found something interesting."

Back with Jermy and Dolph, the former lay on the ground facing upwards. His belly was slightly bigger than before and there was honey splattered around him and on his mouth; his breathing was also heavier, as if he had ran a marathon; needless to say, his face was full of stings. Though, there was no sign of the horn he supposedly had rung. The German kid, who had got over the traumatic occurrence, was sat next to him.

"Why...don't you...go to...show your card...to Mr. David?" Jermy questioned between long gasps.

"Um, I don't know the vay back to ze camp..." He felt ashamed.

"Aw, don't worry friend." Jermy tried to come to his feet but failed. His body fell again and thudded on the ground. "I know where it is."

Dolph contemplated him empathically and just when he opened his mouth to continue the conversation, they heard steps coming from the trees. Both kids feared it was some wild animal and quivered while looking around to find a hiding place. The creak and the rustling increased and felt closer, making them to drew back.

"Oh no, this is the end!" Jermy dramatized. "Go save yourself my friend, and leave me here!"

The little child didn't move. In fact, after feeling something touching his shoulder from behind, he fainted and smacked into the ground. The mysterious newcomer revealed himself as the one and only Scotty who worn a wide smile on his face, literally. He tossed the piece of cardboard resembling a mouth and approached his companion. He leaned in and picked Dolph's card which had rolled out of his grasp.

"Good job dude." He shook the card in front of him. "Now let's continue with ze challenge, shall ve?" He imitated a German accent and laughed maniacally.

Jermy observed him for a few seconds but joined his laughing foolishly. "Ha, ha, ha, that's good but...can you help me stand please?"

...

"Scotty is so...ha, ha...fun and creepy at...ha, ha...the same time that...some...someday I'll ch-ugh." Jermy chokes on his own saliva and falls from his seat.

...

David was drinking a cup of coffee in the mess hall, waiting for anyone to come. There was a laptop on the table from which several wires were connected to and came from it. Occasionally, he would laugh or smile at whatever he was watching on it.

Gwen arrived and raised a brow after looking at him. "Hey David." She tried to call his attention, seeing he didn't turn to see who had entered the room. The man just sipped his coffee, slurping.

"Greetings Gwen." His eyes didn't turn either.

"Uhh, what are you doing?"

"This new technology is great, come see this." He invited her with his hands. "Look, I installed hundred of cameras throughout the entire camp." The screen showed a grid with different sections of the camp. Then he clicked on some tabs to show her more options of places to view.

The woman remained agape at seeing what his workmate was doing. She would have never expected something like that from him.

"How the fuck did you get all of this?! I mean, the money, those trailers and now this?!"

"Oh woo, calm down CBFL! I have to monitor everything the kids do in order to keep them safe, that's all!" After saying that, one of the cameras showed Nurf fighting with a bear to what Gwen worried sincerely. David just passed to another set of places.

"Hey, turn that back!" She exclaimed. "Didn't you see that?!"

"Well, time to make another announcement!" He stood up and marched to the entrance.

The remaining counselor followed him with her eyes until he slammed the door. She turned to the computer again and took the mouse, skipping from one camera to another to see what on Earth was going on in the forest. For all she have been through in this hell of a camp she could assert this was way too off from the usual, and it was getting out of hand.

A jarring noise came out of the loudspeakers and David spoke. "Good afternoon campers! I just want to announce that the challenge will end at six o'clock. Whoever doesn't finish it by that time will be considered a loser and also probably will be more likely to receive votes from their team. Gooood luck!"

"Damn, I have no idea what time it is but by the looks of the sun I can calculate around three hours til the end of the challenge." Harrison explained to no one in particular. He had been waiting for his magic fellow to wake up for an hour now and couldn't think of any other way to do it. Doing another spell wasn't a good option at this point, since that was what made her get caged.

While still thinking, the illusionist heard chattering somewhere near. He peeped out through the bushes and saw two foreign kids talking.

"What other traps did you find?" The girl asked inquisitively to her comrade.

"Some bear traps, ropes that triggered cages to fall from the trees and this fake blanket of flowers covering a huge hole on the ground."

"Excellent." She muttered. "I found this particular device connected to some fake trees." She held a tiny gadget with robotic claws. "It seems these things change position of the cards to confuse us."

"Wow, that's really clever." Dang admired it. "We can use that for future challenges."

"Good thinking." She commended him. "Now we must figure out who placed them. I doubt it was that overly cheerful counselor."

Harrison stopped peering and got away from there. That was some real interesting stuff he heard right there. It should be useful for the next days, that if...he doesn't get kicked out this evening. At least he learned how the hell the girl got imprisoned, although it made him felt miserable knowing his trick didn't work, not even failing.

He ran back to the cage where Nerris was trapped and started to hit it, enduring the painful feeling on his fists.

"Come on Nerris, you can't sleep all day!" He shouted desperately. "What could have possibly made you this drained if we haven't walked that much?!" Then he caught sight of the empty bottle his companion drank from earlier. He picked it up and examined it, not sure why but he did it anyway.

"Hmm, there's gotta be something wrong with this." He tapped his chin. Nerris let out a moan and rolled on her spot still asleep. The magic boy turned his gaze to her, thinking she was about to get up at last.

...

"I believe someone clever enough has put those devices to mislead their opponents." Vera explains. "That's a really good move my friend...but you failed catching me, idiot!" She points at the lens. "Right now, I'm already taking mental note of who they could've been; for example, the science kid, the leader from that military camp, the charismatic teenage girl every stupid kid here loves."

...

"I'm pretty sure Nerris wasn't enchanted into a drowsiness spell. If the cage was not result of my magic powers then why would I think I made her fall asleep?" Harrison expresses. "Besides, I know how to make one of those and that's not how they work." He wiggles his index finger a 'no' and shook his head.

...

Brian wandered around the forest quietly, while Preston was a few inches away from him.

"Why are you following me man?" The former shot. "I'm used to do things alone."

"W-well, I was with Nurf b-but he went into a cave with a giant bear." The theater boy stuttered.

The Kentuckian sighed. "Is this guy afraid of everything?" He added in a low voice. "Then go follow someone else, not me."

"Let's team up and help each other in the challenges!" Preston offered.

"No." He answered in a plain raspy voice.

"You won't survive much alone in this game."

"I'll manage it myself."

"How?" His insistence was getting into Brian's nerves.

"I have my ways."

"Can you teach me..."

"Hey look, there is a squirrel with a card up there." He pointed at a high branch to distract him.

"Aw, how cute." Preston softened. "But I can't see any card..."

The squirrel observed him and came down to another branch the same height as the boy. It sniffed him for a bit while he gazed at it.

"Hey little friend." He stroked its head. "Would you happen to see a little plastic object this size." He gestured a card with his fingers.

The rodent leaned its head to one side to hear him better and squeaked negatively.

"Well then, if you do please tell me and I'll give you a reward!"

"This can't be happening." Brian face palmed.

The little animal descended to the ground and entered a little hole at the base of the tree trunk. After a few seconds, it exited and carried a card on its tiny claws.

Preston gasped and leaned in. "That's wonderful little friend!"

"I'm leaving now." Brian headed off.

The theater camper brought his hand close to the card but the rodent moved it before he could grab it.

"Hey!" He widened his eyes. "Oh, I see, you want the prize." He spotted a nut on the ground. "Okay, I give you your food and you give me the card, deal?"

...

"Since when I got so soft with animals?" Preston wonders.

...

Preston gave it the nut and the animal thankfully stabbed the card on Preston's face, more precisely on his forehead.

"Ahhh, you little shit!" He shook his arms before him to shoo the rodent away which left in a rush.

After a painful removal of the item, the kid realised it wasn't the one he was looking for, as luck would have it.

"This isn't even from one of our teammates!" He shouted in his usual high-pitched voice, thinking Brian was still there. "Or is he?" He showed the picture of the card.

"I'll take that, thanks!" A hand came from off-screen and grabbed the card. "Good job, fellow camper. You found my key card." Snake congratulated him, his friend Petrol beside him.

"Uh...no problem." Preston's hands remained as if still holding it.

Petrol let out an inquiring grunt, placing his hand on Snake's shoulder.

"You sure man?" The short Wood Scout raised a brow, getting his message.

His friend nodded with a smile.

"Roger!" He turned his head to the performer. "We're going to deliver this and then we'll help you find your card, take it or leave it."

"Uh...sure, why not. Thank you."

"Petrol's idea, not mine." He waved him off. "Let's go!"

The three children ran rapidly back to the camp when they bumped into Tabii, shoving her to the side. The girl hit the ground and coughed due to the dust their running had produced.

"Look out you assholes!" She put her hand to one side of her mouth to intensify the volume of her voice. "Argh!" She dusted herself off.

The blonde girl had been searching for her wanted prize for so long she was really thinking of giving up. That until she heard a lovely voice.

"No signs still." A certain science kid walked along with a red-haired Wood Scout.

"Yeah, we were this close to find one until you ran away without any reason." Pikeman's voice felt upset. "I told you that girl won't touch you as long as you stand by me!"

"I know, I just freaked out."

"Oh my, I think I found my precious treasure after all." Tabii jumped out of the bushes and placed in front of them.

"Oh God! Get her away from me dude!" Neil screamed at the top of his lungs, covering his eyes as if he's just witnessed some terrible accident.

"Don't fear soldier, I've got your back!" Pikeman stood in a fighting position.

"Who the fuck are you and why do you want to interfere with my man?!" Tabii's pupils turned into flames. "Ahhh!" She ran forward violently towards him, raging like an angry gorilla. This caused Pikeman to step back, some drops of sweat dripping from his forehead. Without any problem, the girl buried the leader scout with her fists.

At seeing this, Neil froze and didn't attempt to escape. "Holy shit! Please don't hurt me." He trembled.

"Why would I do that silly?" Tabii approached seductively.

The only thing the science geek managed to do was to push her with such force her back hit a tree, making some leaves to fall along with a piece of a plastic rectangle just on her hands.

Her eyes twirled for a few seconds until she shook her head to dispose of the dizziness. When her mind went back to normal she realised the card she was currently holding was Neil's.

"Oh..." She widened her eyes and then turned them to his crush, smirking. "Heeey Neil." She called out.

"Wh-what...?"

"See what I have heeere." She raised the card to his eyesight.

The boy gulped. "Fuck me." He thought.

"Do you want this? Yes, you do." She laughed jokingly. "You only have to...hmm, let me think, what could I ask you, my dear?"

"It'd be preferable if it's nothing related to touching, kissing, or any sort of human contact for that matter." His face sweated as hell.

"Oh, you've read my mind." She paused and moved her head closer to him slowly. "But that's okay...for now, I won't ask you for any of those." Neil closed his eyes again, expecting the worse. "So I'll just give it to you." She simply extended her arm and invited him to take the card.

Not feeling any sort of lip contact on his face, the science kid opened one eye so as to see what she was doing. He pulled his head back and blinked twice in confusion at the scene appreciated. Was this a joke? Probably, he would accept her offer and end up on the ground with his face full of kiss marks.

Or he could give a shit and leave her with the fucking card.

He slowly raised his hand toward the card and took it out of hers. The little contact with her hand made him cringe a bit. That was it.

"I expected something in return..." She muttered, but seeing Neil was about to return the card to her. "...but there's no problem! I've learned my lesson hehe..." She almost messed up her new plan to get Neil.

"Uh, thank you...Tabii." The boy finally spoke again. "Now...I'm gonna head that way...to the camp."

"Oh, I'll go with you my love!" She got excited. "Er...I mean...well, we can go there...as a team, if you want." She added more calmly.

Neil doubted a lot what to answer. "Uh...oof."

"Hey, if you don't want to, I won't force you to do it." She explained maturely.

"It's okay but what are we gonna do with him." He eyed Pikeman.

"Ugh, wake him up so he can join us." She grumbled. Her time alone with Neil was over.

"By the way, have you found any other card?...at least yours?" He bent down and shook Pikeman's arm gently.

"Yep, I found mine an hour ago or so." She took it out from her sash.

"Cool." He praised. "But why haven't you delivered it to David yet?"

"Well um..." She didn't want to sound desperate, she'd worked it out to have him without running away, so that was a good advance. "I really didn't know where the camp was so I guess I got lost." She faked a smile.

"Understandable." He uttered. The camper stuck on the ground started to move. "Come on dude, we've gotta find your card and end all this shit."

...

"Okay, what do you guys think of my new plan?" Tabii winks. "Everyone thinks I'm the dumb one, even my friends, but with this plan I'll prove everyone I can have my Neil whenever I want. I just have to learn more of the stuff he likes." She grabs a science book upside-down.

...

"Are you sure it's mine?" Harrison questioned to his companion.

"I guess. I can't make it out from here." She squinted her eyes.

After waking up from her long sleepiness, Nerris caught sight of a key card glued to the top of the huge cage. It was a bit too much far from her sight so she wasn't able to clarify whose it was from, on the whole.

"Damn, I have no idea how to free you from the cage." Harrison expresses. "I guess it's game over for us." He shrugged.

Us? Was he giving up for her even though he was free and could continue without her?

"I don't follow. How can you say 'for us'?" Nerris asked astonished.

Upon hearing that, Harrison noticed what he said too. "Well, I mean...we are a team...a magic team." He remembered when she said they should stay together to make it as far as they could. Such loyal guy, huh. "Besides, I need you out of there so I can get my key card."

Ah, also that.

The moment was interrupted by Scotty and Jermy who had come across them.

"Hey magic dudes! Long time no see!" The clown waved.

Needless to say, both of them wanted to kill themselves being in presence of the annoying kid...the two annoying kids.

"How is it coming along?" He asked friendly.

Harrison thought before responding; they may not like him but they were a team after all, and he might find a way to solve their problem.

"Nerris has been trapped in this fucking cage for an hour and a half and it's keeping us wasting time to finish the challenge." He explained. "Would you...happen to know how to get her out of there?"

"I'm quite surprised you couldn't manage to do it by yourself, specially you being a wonderful magician, TA DA!" Scotty mocked him, spreading his hands in front of him as if mimicking a trick.

The illusionist growled but tried to ignore him.

"Hey, what's that thing there?" Jermy pointed to a metal stick with a rounded red head on the lower part of the cage. The kids turned their eyes...it was a lever.

"Fuck this shit!" Harrison intended to lower it but it was useless; the lever was stuck and too rusty to move. "And now I can't handle this, great." He placed his hands on his hips.

"Lemme help you man." Scotty pushed him aside and took out a tiny soap and a lighter, conveniently.

The other children observed him as he proceeded to melt the soap all over the lever so as to make it work again. Surprisingly for them, it worked out and the lever lowered itself causing the door to open; the group filled with a good amount of happiness.

"Man, that was awesome!" Harrison cheered.

"I would've never expected something this cool from you Scotty." Nerris bowed her head thankfully.

"It was nothing dudes." He put the lighter in his pocket again.

"Now we've got to think how to get the card on the cage ceiling." The magician pointed to it.

"Hmm, I happen to have this tool here which might help." Again, Scotty unpacked a tiny magnet.

"Your pockets are deep." Jermy commented.

"We need to find any branch long enough to attach this magnet to it and see if it attracts the card."

Not being able to find any that could help, they ended up collecting several branches from different sizes and tied them up to simulate one long branch. After a few tries, Scotty succeeded in getting the card and, once again, the magic kids expressed their thanks to him.

"It's no problem guys, enjoy your prize." The clown handed them the card. "I still have to find mine."

"Wait a minute." Harrison interrupted. "This isn't my card." He looked up at him, pausing. "It's yours."

"Oh really?" He took it from Harrison's hand. "Holy shit, that's what I call a lucky move." He smiled widely. The first time he actually did something nice for someone else had paid off without any warning. Still, he pretended to be good and knew they kind of trusted him now, and that's what he was playing for. However, that didn't mean he would keep doing good actions for every camper. That was one thing happening in a day.

Harrison shot a glare at his magic companion to what she replied with a raised brow.

"What?"

"You told me it was mine."

"I said I wasn't sure. You can't expect me to see everything right." She returned the scowl.

"Keep the discussion for later guys." Jermy spoke up. "Time's running out and three of us here don't have a card."

"I wonder who else is missing in finding theirs." The illusionist looked up to the sky to check the time.

...

"I can't believe Scotty helped us." Nerris says. "Despite not being our card, he pulled that off really well! I just hope he doesn't expect something in return though." She crosses her arms.

...

"After so much isolation we caused to him, I'm pretty surprised he did that." Harrison puts a hand on his chin in thought. "We might as well include him in our alliance, along with Jermy, I guess."

...

The four kids kept walking when Nerris stepped on a fake layer of colored flowers and fell down a hole. The thud echoed through the forest and she cursed as the pain lingered.

"Damn! Is anything else going to happen to me today?" Upon saying that, a log hit her head which made her get a bump.

"Sorry..." Jermy spoke. "I was keeping that for tonight's campfire."

"Hang on Nerris, we'll figure out how to save you." Harrison shouted. "Okay, to the best of three." He said to Scotty and started to play 'rock, paper or scissors' to decide who will help her.

The girl's voice was heard from below. "Hey, I-I found...a card." She groaned. "It's yours Harrison."

"Really?" His head popped out from the top of the hole.

"Yeah..." She tossed it out upwards and it landed next to the magician.

...

"Nerris the Cute, the one who has to endure all the pain and still gets nothing for herself." She puts on sarcastic look.

...

"Yay!" Harrison cheered. "Your presence is convenient among the traps on this challenge Nerris." He gazed at the card, contemplatively.

"Fuck you Harrison."

"Good job guys." Scotty commended. "Let's head back to the camp." He led the way.

"Are you kidding me?" Nerris spat annoyed.

"Stop whining, just climb up this vine." Harrison threw a long liana into the hole.

"But...I can't. My physical skills are ten points below the standard necessary to do such a thing."

"Come on, at least try!"

"It's useless! It's as if you used a water-type move to attack a plant-type..."

"Hey everybody, I found another one!" Jermy called their attention.

"Really? Who is it from?" The girl on the hole inquired.

Before he could tell them from whom the card was, Scotty stared at the picture on it, and realised it was Nerris'.

"Hey hey my friend!" He interrupted. "Good job finding your card!"

Jermy looked confused and checked it again. "But this is from-"

"Why don't you give it to me so I can keep it safe?" He didn't let him respond and snatched it.

"Oh well, thanks." The bespectacled kid scratched his head. "I thought it was Ne-"

"Oh look at the time!" Scotty pretended to look at a watch on his wrist. "It's getting really late and we didn't deliver any of our cards."

"True, let's break this up once and for all!" Harrison commanded. "Nerris, if you don't cooperate you'll be left out."

"Okay..." She growled and proceeded to climb up the vine. With much difficulty, and a little help from her teammates, she finally made it to the top safely although breathing heavily.

"Good, now to the camp!" Again, Scotty led them to their destiny.

...

"That covered mi share of physical activity for the year." Nerris states.

...

Scotty smirks widely and slides four cards in front of the camera: Dolph's, Nerris', Jermy's and Pikeman's.

...

The kids walked back to the camp, the clown and the Wood Scout being at the bottom. The former tapped the latter's shoulder.

"Huh?" Before Jermy turned around to face his companion, Scotty let a card fall at his feet. "Oh, you dropped my card buddy." He bent to pick it up. Scotty took advantage of this and cautiously introduced the three remaining cards in Jermy's butt.

"Keep it man." Scotty stopped him with his hand.

"Oh ok, thanks." He put it in his pocket, and they continued walking.

...

Scotty shows himself holding his mouth in disgust. "That was fucking gross." He let out a vomiting sound. "But it will worth it."

...

After a couple of hours wandering around the thick forest and its surroundings under the heat, the remaining campers got only half an hour left to finish the search. Some of the ones who had completed the challenge where resting on the mess hall, waiting for their fellows to return. Just to accelerate things a bit, David made a last announcement to the children lost in there.

"Last call campers! To make your little cute legs move faster I'll name the ones who didn't bring a card yet!" He urged. "The Bears missing their cards are Erin, Max, Preston, Brian and Hwan, and from the Deer, Space Kid, Pikeman, Dolph and Nerris! Good job guys, you are taking the lead! Only thirty minutes more until I officially end this challenge!"

Upon hearing that, Nikki, who was messing around in her tent, pricked up her ears and reproduced David's words in her mind.

"What? I never gave him any card." Then she remembered what the counselor had said in one of his announcements.

'The participant who brings here a card that isn't theirs buuut someone else's automatically make that ONE to finish the challenge!'

Who would do such a thing? She got up and exited, she needed to find out who did that.

...

"I kind of regret having done that but..." Max sighs. "...if I don't want to be alone the rest of the competition I'll have to put my apathy and selfishness aside, at least for the ones I care."

...

"David, we found my card!" Preston burst into the mess hall along with Petrol and Snake.

"Great job guys! That's what I call team work!" The counselor cheered. "Enjoy your new cabin Preston!" He invited him to go.

Back to the forest, one of the mentioned Bears was still in search of his card. Brian walked around alone, as he would always want, until he came across one of his teammates. A little military officer hopped repeatedly to reach a card he had found hanging from a branch, not to high from the ground. The Kentuckian looked at him for a while, eyeing his short jumps. Then he decided to step out of his hidden spot and approached him.

Hwan heard steps coming from his back and turned abruptly. "Huh, you? What are you doing here?"

"Uh nothing, just looking for a certain plastic rectangle in this huge forest." Brian shrugged. "They say that if you find one you may finish the challenge." He said sarcastically. "But hey, it's just a saying, I don't even know if it's true."

"You must be really dumb to don't know that."

Brian frowned but ignored him. "What are you doing?" He obviously knew but he wanted to see how his new companion would respond to an obvious question.

"Er...I found my card but..." He sweated a bit in embarrassment. "I can't reach it."

"I see." He started to head off. "Good luck with that man."

"Wait! Can't you help me? I mean we're a team..."

Brian stopped and turned to see him. "A team? Are you sure? Does your country really care for everyone's well-being?"

The Korean kid pulled his head back in confusion. "I-"

"Don't answer." Brian sighed. "Okay, I'll help you." He set under the branch and grabbed the key card. "Wow, it's yours, how lucky." He added in a monotonous voice.

"I know it's mine. I managed to make it fall from the top but it got stuck there."

"Those bastards put your card that high? Nice haha."

"Thank you for your help, if you happen to come visit my country, I'll make sure the Great Leader doesn't take you to the forced-labor camps."

"Aaaand that was your comment talking about your God." Brian joked. "I was so waiting for it. Don't worry man, I'm not planning to visit your country, at least in the next thousand years."

"Oh, that's a shame. There are wonderful things to see like the public executions or the nuclear bombs museum."

"Mm-hmm..."

"Well then, if you can't go, at least I want to express my gratitude by giving you this." Hwan handed him another card. It had the photo of Brian on it.

"Where did you find this?" He widened his eyes.

"I didn't find it. That fat guy from our team gave it to me and told me to deliver it to you."

Upon hearing that, Brian changed his usual bitter facial expression and remained speechless.

"So, what do you say we go to the camp and end this crap?" The officer smiled.

"Yeah, come on."

...

"Yeah, I was the one who found Brian's card." Nurf rubs his head, his body full of scratches and torn clothes. "It was hard to get it but I know that at least it would put a smile on him."

...

"Okay, that was kind of him." Brian keeps his calm look. "I know he wants to make it up for me but I'm not really interested in making friends...at least not him."

...

"Is it me or is this game softening every kid?" Quartermaster snorts soundly. "Oh, I forgot this is my own store." He looks both his sides as inspecting the place, then stops and stares firmly at the camera. "What the heck are you watching?!"

...

"Wonderful job kiddos!" David raised his hands highly. "This was such a great first challenge and I love how some of you gave up your own cards to deliver someone else's!" He eyed to Max and Space Kid.

"But Space Kid's wasn't intentional." Harrison looked at the counselor angrily. The astronaut worn a sad face, head down.

"I promise I won't forget rules again." He raised his palm as if swearing an oath.

"Max delivered another card?" Pikeman spoke up. "Ha, that little scoundrel would never do that." He marched towards him.

"Back off jerk!" Max shoved him violently.

Nikki realised that if Max and Space Kid were the only ones who did so, and the latter did it without even knowing whose card he had, then that meant...

"So you delivered MY card instead of yours?" The girl approached him.

"Well uh..." The boy scratched the back of his head. "I-It was...it was the only way to..." He stuttered. Everyone else was looking at him intently.

"Laaame." She interrupted. "Come on guys, again with this gayish stuff?"

"Huh?" Max raised an eyebrow.

"Both you and Neil have tried to 'recover' my friendship in the stupidest way possible haha." The green-haired girl snorted. "That's not the way I'd fix things."

Max remained quiet after her words. He would never do such a thing for anyone...but for her or Neil. Though, now he realised how cheesy he was getting by doing that. The rest of the campers were still staring at him while he talked with his conscious and when he returned his eyes to them he scowled.

"What the fuck are you looking at?!"

"Okay children, since the Grumpy Bears have found nine key cards and the Dizzy Deer just seven..." Quartermaster played a drum roll. "Congratulations Bears, you are the winners of this challenge!"

"Yeah!" The winner team cheered and high-fived.

"Great thinking Max." Nurf patted the Indian kid violently. "Who would have thought you're actually a sweetheart."

"I don't believe any shit coming from him." Sasha spoke up. "This bastard is the most deceitful person you would ever meet and I won't fall for his fake actions."

"Believe what you want, I don't care about you." Max left.

David called again. "Dizzy Deer, I want you to be on the elimination ceremony at ten o'clock in the evening; it'll take part around the campfire. The rest can go to enjoy the new cabins and walk around the forest!"

"We just walked around it for like six hours." Brian said in a cranky mood.

...

"Welp, so the plan has begun muahaha..." Scotty laughs evilly.

...

"It's great to know I can trust in someone else apart from the campers of Camp Camp." Preston smiles. "Snake and Petrol were really helpful to me. Hmm...I wonder if they'd like to see my plays."

...

We see Max sitting in front of the camera, in a relaxed way, his hands behind his head. He then looks directly to the lens. "Nope, I've got nothing to say."

...

Jermy lets out a long sigh. "We lost. And whatever happened to Dolph's card it might have been one of those magic campers. I just really don't trust them anymore. Also, the space kid couldn't even deliver his own card so I think our team don't need him." He states, then opens his eyes widely. "Oh God, what am I saying?! I'm not like this!" He holds his head. "But I have to vote for someone, and that'll be..."

...

"Seriously, I won't say a word!" Max rages to the viewers.

...

"Dammit! I feel ashamed of myself." Pikeman hits his fist on his knee. "Ow!" He rubs it. "Now the team must decide who to eliminate and judging by the 'popular rules' of this game, they will probably vote off the ones who didn't find their card, double dammit!" He hits his knee again. "Ou-"

...

Tabii dances happily in the store. "Oh yeah! Double win for me!"

...

"Sorry guys, I didn't know that was Sasha's card." Space Kid explains looking down. He then changes to a happy mood and waves to the camera. "Meh, it was fun while it lasted; mum, dad, I'm coming home!"

...

"Go fuck yourself! What are you, stalking me?! I just want to relax in some fucking place alone!" Max shakes the camera violently.

...

We see Quartermaster back to the camera, his right arm moving fast and a metal sound coming from the movement. He stops abruptly and turns around slowly until he faces us. It reveals a sweaty forehead and a heavy breathe, in his left hand is drawn a bad tattoo which he seemed to be doing with his hook which was covered in ink. He takes a metal bar from his side and smashes the camera.

...

The kids were having dinner in the mess hall. The Dizzy Deer, who were about to be called to vote for someone one by one, were discussing who was the unlucky (or lucky) one to leave the camp.

"I don't like the idea of saying out loud who we will vote as it's something private, you know, like the elections." Neil expressed but everyone ignored him.

"The ones who didn't get their cards, those are useless." Vera suggested.

"You can count on my vote." Dang agreed.

"You are not so professional as a leader after all." Scotty turned his gaze to Pikeman who was silent. "Guess I'll have to cover that role from now on." He said proudly.

"You? Come on...I bet even a failed American astronaut could do it."

Space Kid's ears perked up and a smile formed on his face; then he realized what the Russian girl meant which made him drop it.

"However, that won't happen either." She reached to SK's ears, or rather to his fishbowl. "Because you are one of the losers." She whispered.

"Ahhh, it's good to be out of the group of losers."' Neil settled down in the bench, head resting on the wall. "And I mean the losers from this team." He gestured a circle around his teammates.

"You have left me alone soldier!" Pikeman directed to him. "After so much work together you just put me aside and joined the opposing force!"

"I didn't do that. In fact, we helped you search your card."

"Don't listen to him Neil." Tabii joined the conversation. Her left hand rubbed Neil's shoulder gently which made his gaze turn rapidly to it, feeling harassed again. The girl noticed this and took it away quickly. "He clearly doesn't know how to work as a team, not to mention he's really ungrateful."

"I can't believe it." The leader scout widened his eyes. "So finally, you've succumbed to her. You traitor." He pointed at him.

The rest of the team was hearing the argument and drew their own conclusions. That until Scotty interrupted again.

"Don't worry soldier." He referred to Pikeman mockingly. "You can have me by your side." He winked repeatedly in a silly way.

"I..." The Wood Scout stopped to think a bit. "I would say a resounding no...but for this time I guess you are a better companion than this science geek." He pointed his hand at Neil who was frowning.

"Thanks!" The clown saluted. "I think you won't be needing this guy anymore." He picked Jermy by his uniform, although not lifting him of course.

"Jermy? Oh, how can you say that?" Pikeman removed Scotty's hand off from Jermy. "As much as I hate his attitude, he's the truest and most loyal companion on this team and I would never dismiss him." He stated firmly.

"Oh yeah, that's for sure...at least for the next ten seconds." Scotty smirked.

"Aw, thank you boss." Jermy reached to hug his leader but he shoved him.

"No need to do that." He dusted himself off even though the kid hadn't touch him.

When Jermy stepped off due to the push of Pikeman, he felt a little pain inside his stomach and his belly started to make gurgling sounds like feeling hungry. He pressed his stomach to retain the internal pain and groaned as the growls raised in volume.

"Is he...is he gonna fart?" Dang asked dubiously.

"Shit, it sounds big." Vera claimed. "Let's get the fuck out of here!"

"Man, did I hit you that strong? I only pushed a bit." Pikeman questioned, incredulous about his strenghth.

Without any warning, Jermy let out a long, and I mean a really long burp that silenced the entire camp reaching to the other islands where Jasper was floating away.

"Woo-whee, I give it a ten outta ten!" Scotty cheered.

"Oh wait..." He burped a short one this time. "That's not all." And he farted, his pants being ripped once again. However, this time was more interesting...yeah, as much as it can sound disgusting. Not only did the strips of clothes flew out from his butt but also three particular cards that somehow were attached to it came down on the floor.

Every member of the team went 'ew' upon seeing that, until one of them casually noticed what they were.

"Wait, aren't those...the missing key cards?" Scotty put his hands on his face, faking a surprised look.

Everyone gasped in unison.

"Why the hell was my card doing in your...?" Nerris couldn't finish the question.

"Mine card!" Dolph exclaimed. "You fat man stole it to prevent my winning!"

"Uhh..." Jermy scratched his head confounded. "I don't remember Mr. David putting those in there."

"What else weird fetish do you have dude?!" Neil drew back.

Everyone was commenting on the recent occurrence while a certain leader scout stared at his key card on the floor. It shocked him to have discovered his teammate and fellow Wood Scout betrayed him. Not wanting to touch it, he moved his face closer to the card to confirm if it was his...and it was indeed. Now he needed an explanation, so he marched to his subordinate, changing his expression to one of a strict and serious military officer.

He cleared his voice. "Jermy, may I know why my card was in your pants?" His arms rested behind his back.

"I...I'm as confused as you, sir."

Pikeman looked around and saw the campers were watching them well focused. "I'd rather talk to you in a more private place."

They moved away from the group and placed in a corner.

"Listen Jermy, I know you aren't smart and probably won't last much here." He stopped. "I mean, you're a really good person and I'm sure you haven't done that." The leader placed a hand on his companion's shoulder making him smile. "It was wrong of me to have sent you with Scotty. He probably tried to brainwash you and made you do this...or worse, he was the one who did that and incriminated you." He sighed. "Now it's too late to make everyone understand this but I want you to know I won't vote against you." And he saluted, to what Jermy returned with the same gesture.

...

"Bullshit!" Scotty exclaims.

...

It was night already, the moon reflected on the lake as a few lights could be seen coming from the campsite, where one team was enjoying themselves in their luxurious cabins whereas the other was gathered in the campfire, waiting for their future fate in Camp Camp.

David stood in front of a mid-height wooden platform and held a tray full of marshmallows on his left hand. They added up to the exact number of campers each team had.

"Welcome Dizzy Deer! This is the first official elimination ceremony of the competition!"

"And why do you say that as if it was something to cheer for?" Neil grumbled.

"You've already voted for whoever you think should leave and after counting the votes myself, I now will announce who are the ones staying...at least for three more days. The campers called must come to receive their marshmallow, a symbol of stay." He ate one. "The camper who doesn't receive one must walk on the Path of Shame and take the Bus of Losers."

...

"The choice wasn't that easy." Harrison reveals. "Having both most annoying kids in our team had me analyzing who would be more useful in future challenges." He explains. "On one hand, Scotty is a humorless compulsive stalker who can't differentiate between personal space and to stay away from people, but on the other hand, he actually was pretty skilled in getting his card in the forest, which in turn, could make him a potential rival too hard to defeat later." He then moved closer to the lens and proceeded to whisper. "In fact, he might be hearing me here. Anyway..." He continued in a normal voice. "...the other kid I was referring to is clearly Jermy, who seems to be a cheater and a disloyal member to our team. That was unexpected...I guess he hid it behind his personality."

...

"I feel disappointed of myself for making Jermy follow that guy." Pikeman says. "And I'll feel worse if the worst happens."

...

"NOBODY WANTED ME THEN THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOOLS! HAHAHAHA." Scotty bursts.

...

"Alright, the first camper to receive their marshmallow is..."

Every kid was silent and attentive, waiting for the counselor to say their names out loud.

"Dang."

"It's damn!" Scotty joked. David scowled at him for breaking the dramatic silence and pressed one finger on his lips to tell him to hush.

Dang stood and approached David with a smile. He gave his foreign partner a glance and a quick nod before grabbing the white candy and returning to his seat.

"Next camper is..." David made another short pause. "...Vera."

The Russian girl did the same as her companion and ate the prize.

"Well done guys, your performance was quite impressive." He complimented them. Avoiding silence this time he called the third one. "Neil."

The science kid reacted a bit late and stood up after Tabii elbowed him. "Oh, me?" He said daunted by anything in particular.

Three campers saved, eight to go.

"Tabii." The blonde didn't react quickly either. In fact, she feigned getting startled by the call of her name. "Harrison." David continued. The illusionist just smiled and took his prize.

"Dammit!" Pikeman exclaimed under his breath. "I expected to be in the first five calls."

"Nerris." A broad grin formed on the sorceress' face.

"More than half of the team is safe." David reminded. "Next one is..."

The five remaining campers wore a more terrified look now, although Scotty seemed to be faking it. Pikeman started to sweat and quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe his forehead; Space Kid's helmet steamed up due to his heavy breath and Dolph just trembled slightly. Jermy felt a little nervous too but tried not to show it off too much as everyone knew him for being a very calm boy, if not disinterested of everything.

"...Pikeman."

"YES!" He jumped in joy. After taking the candy and returning to his seat, he glanced at his fellow Wood Scout and gave him a thumbs-up. "Don't worry Jermy, everything is under control."

"Dolph." David continued.

The German kid, being the shortest of the camp, launched himself from the seat to the ground and walked towards the counselor, smiling. "Zank you for not voting me." He eyed all the group. "I promise I won't fail next challenge." Nobody responded and he made his way to his previous spot.

"There are three campers but only two marshmallows on my tray." David stated. "Who will be the next one safe..."

Space Kid gulped and surprisingly took out his helmet to wipe his forehead with his gloved hand. Scotty stayed with a blank expression now, squinting a bit. Jermy watched the tray attentively, he wanted a marshmallow so bad...

"Space Kid." David finally spoke again.

"Yay!" The little astronaut dashed and took the prize. He ate it with a big smile on his face, making 'hmm' sounds while chewing.

"So now it has come to you two, kids." The counselor looked at the remaining campers. "One of you will stay, at least for three days." He smirked. "And the other will leave camp and return to your home with empty hands." His gaze was turning quite sharp.

Gwen, who had arrived a few minutes ago when the ceremony was already being carried out, raised a brow at his facial expression. "Are you feeling alright? Why are you not being yourself lately?"

"Huh?" He turned around. "Haha I'm just trying to add drama to the moment. Our ratings must be at a good 20 by now!"

His co-counselor stared at him blankly and shook her head. "I won't even bother to respond to that."

Continuing with the elimination, Jermy felt the urge to raise his hand before David keep going. The redhead stayed quiet, to what the kid understood as a sign of letting him speak. The boy stood up and looked around as if wanting to talk to everyone there. "I want to promise you guys, next time I will collect all your cards but mine." Everyone stared at the naive child not even uttering a word. Some of them thought there might not be a 'next time' for him and if there was, then it wouldn't be the same challenge, or at least that's what they expected.

"Thank you Jermy." David broke the silence with a giggle and gestured him to sit down.

He sat again, this time with a satisfied smile on his face. Scotty put a hand on his shoulder and cast a look to the tray in David's hands, nodding as well. Jermy didn't get what he meant but he kept smiling anyways.

"Alrighty kiddos." The counselor spoke up again. "The last marshmallow of the night goes to..."

It was impossible not to get nervous at hearing that last statement. Whether you are a serene or an outgoing person, anyone would be on the edge of their seat if being in the shoes of these two campers; even if you were completely sure about the results...because...anything could turn out wrong...

The clown ran his tongue over his lips slowly, expecting the so far off call from the counselor. Jermy yawned for five seconds flat, already tired of the long wait. The rest was getting impatient at David's delay; in fact, Vera was about to burst out when the redhead spoke.

"To..." He repeated, much to everyone's annoyance.

...

...

...

"Scotty."

The ones who didn't vote Jermy gasped. Scotty jumped from his seat and cheered joyfully; confetti came out from his hands, covering the people around. His celebration was cut out by David who called him again.

"Here is your marshmallow Scotty." He handed it to him. "You're safe...for now."

Jermy remained sat on the tree trunk resembling a seat, his arms hanging down as his teammate enjoyed the prize. A hand touched his back, comfortingly; it was Pikeman, who reached to dedicate him probably his last words for the next weeks. Jermy looked at him in the eye.

The leader scout sighed. "This sucks man. I knew that traitor made you do that so everyone votes for you. I don't know who preferred to have him stay over you but I'll find out and make them pay for it."

"How are you gonna do that? The voting is secret."

"I'll manage to get them in any way. It might be against the rules, I guess, but I want to know who those stupid people were." He clenched his fist.

"Nah, don't worry about it." Jermy waved it off. "It'll make you get into problems."

"Okay Jermy, as you wish." And he saluted, military way, to what his companion returned the same way.

"I'm sorry Jermy-" David interrupted.

"Fartz!" He added.

The counselor giggled. "Jermy...Fartz, yeah. I'm sorry to tell you, you...you must...leave." He sniffled, feeling a bit sad for making one camper to abandon Camp Camp.

Gwen widened her eyes. He was acting like him again! "David!" She cut him out.

"W-what happened?!" He got startled.

"Uhh...nothing. I just..."

"Don't interrupt me Gwen." He put his hands on his hips. "Don't you see I'm in the middle of something important?"

She didn't respond. The fact David started to act weird since this whole competition thing had begun made her suffer from headaches. Was this really making him change his personality? Or was it someone else making him do that? Maybe impersonating? Oh God, it can't be Daniel again...she wasn't so sure about it but she needed to find out. For the time being, she might as well enjoy the elimination scene, which surprisingly got her really into it!

"There awaits you the Path of Shame!" David pointed to the exit. "And then, enjoy your trip to home in the Bus of Losers!" Quartermaster was on the driver's seat, casually checking a watch on his wrist and mumbling as always.

"Aw beans..." The kid lowered his head and stood up. "I had fun though. Thanks guys." He waved to his teammates.

"Hey Jermy." Scotty interrupted his leaving. "Where is my horn?"

"Oh, I-I..." He feared to tell the truth, but it was his last minutes there so he confessed. "I lost it!"

"Wha-" The clown pulled his head back. "Then how did you ring it when you called me?!"

"Come on, you should know at this point ." He frowned for the first time. Seeing Scotty didn't follow he tried to remind him. "Remember the colorful beans you gave when we were deciding who to vote, and then I burped and farted...?"

"SHUT UP!" The jokester shouted. Everyone was left surprised for his reaction.

"Sorry Jermy, we are running out of time." David interrupted.

"Okay..." He returned to his sad self. "But...what about mum and dad? Do they know I'm coming home-?"

"Enjoy your ride! Send postcards when you get there!" Campbell appeared like a sudden ghost and pushed him to the bus violently. The engine roared and took off fast, leaving a cloud of dust behind.

"Cameron Campbell!" David scolded him. "Why did you do that?"

The man turned and raised a brow. "What? We clearly didn't call that child's parents so we couldn't tell him the truth."

"But..."

"Besides, what will our viewers say if they know that...hehe?" He muttered while waving to the 'camera'.

"Seriously?" Gwen joined. "You too?"

Campbell turned around and mimicked a 'sh' sound while still making David think everything was on TV. The woman just rolled her eyes and left.

...

"Jermy's last statement was to not get myself into the voting but I need to know the truth. I don't tolerate traitors in my group." Pikeman grits his teeth with clenched fists.

...

"Welp, that was easy." Scotty inspects his hand as though trying to look badass. "I knew Jermy and I were gonna be the last ones but next time I'll have to ensure no one sees me as a danger."

...

We see Max relaxing again. "It's good to be back."

"What do you mean?" Nikki's voice is heard outside.

"Get out!"

...

"And that's all for today campers! I hope you have enjoyed the first challenge!" David smiles. "The first camper has already been sent home, who's next? Find out next chapter of Total Drama Camp!"

"Stop doing that!" Gwen's voice comes from off-screen.

---

GOD that took years! The few people who saw this probably thought this was already dead lol. But no, it really took me this long to finish it. It would've probably been out weeks ago but I procrastinated much and, added to that, had to deal with student's life stuff. I won't put a time schedule this time as next chapter could take me even more or maybe less time than this one.

Hope you have enjoyed the first elimination and any doubt or correction you would like to make is welcomed to be written in the reviews! See you in the next chapter!