Total Drama Intrabet
Disclaimer: I do not own Total Drama or its characters.
Note: This chapter took longer than I thought it would to complete, but I feel like the story is still being done at a reasonable pace, considering how much work I have during the week. The characters are getting better in my opinion but I still need to get used to writing them a little more. All the more reason to get rid of one of the bastards soon, am I right?
The camera faded from black into a focused shot of Chris standing on the docks, poised and looking into the camera in a manner to signify he was prepared to open up the episode.
"Welcome back to Total Drama Intrabet, as we move into the next episode and first real stage!" Exclaimed Chris. "Last time we saw twenty-six fresh faces arrive on the island, where they were tasked right way with a simple day hike across the island to find Camp Wawanakwa. Along the way we watched alliances form, conflicts brew, and even some attractions flare. To give some examples, Zenith was quick to recruit Gavin into an alliance, Benatar found an early disdain for Lana due to her being an attention hog, and it seemed that the petite Paige was already starting to show signs of crushing on this season's biggest guy, Hayden. The stakes weren't truly all that high yet, though many of the campers were eager to feast on a well-earned meal after a long hot trek under the blazing sun. We also saw an array of strategies and insights into the thought processes of our many players, some being prepared to play hard while others are more relaxed and eager to take things easy."
Chris halted for a moment to clear his throat, then pulled a mini tyrannosaurus skull from somewhere behind him, holding it and moving its jaw like a puppet.
"So for today's challenge, they're all going to have to use their heads if they want a shot at winning! The stage as been set for a lot of crazy things to happen, but when will the explosive drama begin…sooner, or later? Will Citra fill up her camera with pictures before the end of this episode? Is Okoth going to work up the nerve to speak his mind? Will most contestants realize their backgrounds are probably unlike that of the others, and adapt to the new social atmosphere? And will Niko remember that he forgot to rehash his riveting speech for Xipil to hear? Find out the answers to these questions and more this time on Total Drama Intrabet!"
I Wanna Eat, I Wanna Eat, I Wanna Eat Famous Amos™!
Gavin, Kanapi and Tovi were currently unpacking their things within one of the rooms of the men's building. Kanapi and Tovi shared a bunk on one side, while Gavin was in the bottom bunk across from them, his luggage occupying the top bunk entirely. Both Gavin and Tovi had changed into their sleepwear while Kanapi still wore his same tattered clothes from earlier.
"Hey man, don't you have anything else to wear during the night?" Asked Tovi while climbing onto the top bunk.
"These are the only clothes I have." Stated Kanapi. "I am sure it is unusual for most people including yourselves, but this is all which I thought I would need for this show."
"Clearly you haven't ever had to pack for an important flight before." Stated Gavin. "I've had to plan and organize for my master's business trips on many an occasion, and you wouldn't believe what is considered essential for an excursion of that fortitude."
"How many suitcases full?" Laughed Tovi.
"Several." Answered Gavin seriously. "However, it's not as though signing up for this show is necessarily the same thing. As long as Kanapi can wash his clothing every now and then, he should be fine."
"It has been a long time since I gave the old leather hide a rinse by the river." Stated Kanapi matter-of-factly.
The look on Gavin's face was one of pure horror.
"Excuse me? Heavens me, you need to ask Chris where there's a washing machine right away." Insisted Gavin.
"I suppose Kanapi could, as long as you don't mind him walking through here au naturale." Smirked Tovi.
Gavin's pupils shrank once again, but then dilated as his face reverted to a more subdued expression.
"…No thank you. On second thought, let's all wait until morning." Groaned Gavin.
"A decent sleep will invigorate your body and mind." Advised Kanapi. "Let us not stay up too late into the night."
"He has a point. While you guys both seem cool, we should get as much rest as possible." Mused Tovi.
"I have no problem with that whatsoever, but hopefully you both will keep your side of the room clean." Said Gavin with a wag of his finger. "I am not used to getting a lot of sleep so you mustn't make a lot of noise, either."
"We all want to be well rested for the challenge, so we have no reason to keep you up." Assured Tovi.
"He is right. As far as I can tell, all three of us are well versed in common courtesy." Remarked Kanapi.
One of Gavin's bags fell from the top bunk, causing him to groan as he got up to put it back in place.
"That's why I chose the two of you as roommates; I figured you'd both respect my desire for tranquility and order." Stated Gavin. "I trust that my judgment was sound."
"The both of us don't exactly want to throw a party tonight." Shrugged Tovi. "I usually make it a goal to be silent after the lights go off, anyways."
"Consider it done." Stated Kanapi as he lay down on his bed.
"Hopefully I'll be on the winning team tomorrow." Said Tovi while the urge to yawn came upon him. "I don't want to make an enemy out of anyone this early."
"It could happen regardless, but I share the same hope that you do." Added Gavin.
"The way I see it, there are several ways in which it's easy to prevent making other people your enemy." Explained Tovi. "And sure, there's sometimes a rare one sided conflict that can form beyond one's own control, but I feel I'm not inherently someone that is easily disliked."
"Reality TV amplifies the possibilities, Tovi." Replied Gavin. "You have to be extra careful or else everyone could turn against you behind your back."
"I guess that's all the more incentive to win, then." Sighed Tovi.
"Win or lose, I hope to remain on this island for a long time." Yawned Kanapi.
"If you're lucky, maybe even until the very end." Smirked Tovi.
(Confessional: There is a myriad of factors that can affect somebody's fate in this game, especially since eliminations occur regularly.)
Tovi: With the first day finally coming to a close, all that's left to do is socialize a bit until the teams are decided prior to our upcoming challenge tomorrow. If I'm lucky I'll win immunity, but even if I don't I won't give anyone a reason to vote for me.
Kanapi: At least from my experiences, the dream world usually offers a foreshadowing for the upcoming day. If you are chased by something unseen, it usually represents fear of the unknown. When you find three pillars, it has always meant that you'll face an upcoming struggle. Hopefully I envision the naked golden woman tonight, which tends to indicate…many things, but one of them in particular being good luck.
Gavin: My choice of roommates was suitable for a peaceful atmosphere, yet neither of the two seemed inclined for a moment to discuss strategy. Perhaps it'd have been a crapshoot anyway, given how tired everyone acted after the hike. Tomorrow morning, there'll be a prime chance to make inroads with my competition.
In another room of the men's building, Ianto, Niko, and Wentworth all had gathered their belongings in separate corners of the room, and were choosing their bunks.
"I don't mind being on the bottom much, if you guys happen to have a preference." Said Ianto.
"Cool, because I sure do love a nice perch, bro!" Smiled Niko as he scrambled up one of the ladders to claim the bunk above Wentworth.
"You're quite a squirrely fellow, chap." Remarked Wentworth in amusement. "How is it that you've retained so much energy at this hour?"
"Couldn't tell you, amigo." Shrugged Niko. "I just live every moment the best I can, especially now since I'm quite excited to be playing this awesome game!"
"Can't fault you for that, buddy." Laughed Ianto. "So, you guys ready to rock and roll at the challenge tomorrow?"
"Oh yes, and I hope it involves a lot of teamwork because I sure would enjoy leading a group to victory!" Smiled Niko.
"Honestly, I am intensely hopeful that there isn't any emphasis on running fast or heavy lifting." Admitted Wentworth. "If someone has to take the reins, you wouldn't spot me in the debate over being in control."
"If you're worried about receiving flak from others, I would encourage you not to fret." Advised Ianto calmly. "In a mammoth season of twenty-six people, there's still plenty of room to hide at this point."
"Very true." Nodded Wentworth. "Seems there are a few troublemakers already drawing attention…"
"Exactly my point." Nodded Ianto. "If we can just be cool and have some fun, nobody will target the three of us."
"Say, do any of you find some girls to be of interest?" Asked Niko. "There are several cuties in my honest opinion, but I'll never tell who."
"There's this one girl I've got my eye on." Admitted Ianto. "Though like you, my lips are sealed on the details."
"Wonder if I'd ever concoct a true love scenario with a pretty lass on reality TV." Pondered Wentworth.
"Try not to count on it, broseph." Warned Niko. "You might have your heart broken, sewn back together, smashed again, and then eaten before it digests and is thrown back up- "
"Please, stop." Urged Ianto with a held out hand, as his face was quickly turning green.
"…Oops. Hospital bill's on me, dude." Apologized Niko. "My metaphors usually require more work."
"Heart muscle is quite formidable." Chuckled Wentworth. "While your concern is endearing, I believe I'll be quite alright, chap."
"Let's hope." Smiled Niko. "You seem to be pretty well-rounded individual so I trust that you're socially smart too."
"Ha! Funny choice of words." Smirked Ianto while seemingly less queasy.
The three boys all had a decent laugh over this. Once the laughter subsided, Niko let out a yawn, much to the surprise of the other two.
"I guess we'd better hit the hay, lads." Smirked Wentworth. "If Niko is tired already, I don't see how drifting off is going to be so hard for us either."
"Good idea." Agreed Ianto. "I love chatting the night away as much as the next guy, but we'll need rest in order to perform at our best in the upcoming challenge."
"No doubt about it amigos." Said Niko, struggling against another yawn. "Good ni-AAAAAight."
The chatty Hispanic had now officially subdued himself for the night, signaling that the other two were due for some shut-eye.
"Good night, man." Smiled Ianto as the lights went out and he pulled his blanket over his face.
"Likewise, dear fellow." Said Wentworth before closing his eyes, his thoughts drifting to what lay ahead.
(Confessional: Those personalities played off each other quite well, it seems. I doubt it's going to be the same for every other group, though.)
Ianto: Those two guys sure are weirdoes, but they also seemed genuinely kind so that's worth something. I feel that if I have to rely on either one of them any time soon, there's a bridge already being built. My motto? Be everybody's best friend. It has its benefits.
Wentworth: Let me tell you, Niko sure is a chatterbox. Of importance though, is to recognize the trends from past Total Drama seasons. Doesn't befriending the comic relief score you points in the long haul? The audience will remember anyone who associates with a character that attracts attention, as they are usually the straight man of the bunch. It's a suitable plan to start off with.
Niko: Gosh, we haven't even started the game and yet I feel like I've had the time of my life! My initial instinct was to create this huge alliance at the get-go, but it looks like I'll need to take baby steps first. And so far, it seems to be working! Can't forget to ask Xipil tomorrow though, since she didn't hear my "grand proposal" after I arrived on the island.
Forrest, Hayden, Okoth and Yusuf all were planning to go to sleep very soon, though Hayden was currently brushing his teeth and Yusuf was changing into his sleepwear in the restroom designated for their room. Forrest meanwhile was using a toothpick to clean his teeth.
"An exhilarating way to start things off, eh boys?" Asked Forrest as he threw his toothpick towards the trash bin, but missed.
"It sure was something." Remarked Okoth. "While I'm not much of a hiker, I liked getting to see the undeveloped areas of Wawanakwa Island."
"I wouldn't call much of where we are now developed per se, but it's certainly got a darn lot of untouched land." Stated Hayden.
"Wasn't this a designated nature sanctuary before Chris bought it?" Asked Forrest.
"Sure was." Replied Hayden. "That was a while before the very first season too, given that Chris was able to dirty it up well before the first batch of contestants stepped foot here."
"Pretty funny that despite that, we've all come here willingly." Chuckled Okoth. "Perhaps money can really change peoples' minds."
"It sure changed mine." Admitted Forrest. "This show is mighty dangerous, and I wouldn't have even considered signing up if it weren't for the million."
"You must really need it, then." Guessed Hayden.
Yusuf exited the bathroom in his sleepwear, and then climbed up onto the bunk above Okoth.
"Did I m-miss anything?" Asked Yusuf.
"Not really." Shrugged Hayden. "Just talkin' about money, how good it is."
"I can agree that money is something worth fighting for here." Stated Yusuf.
"Say, some of you probably have jobs." Remarked Okoth. "What do you guys do for a living?"
There was a brief silence.
"I'm in school right now." Answered Yusuf. "No job for m-me just yet."
"I work on the family farm, with my girl." Replied Hayden proudly. "We've been feeding thousands of people every year thanks to our renowned work ethic."
"I perform a lot of hard labor myself." Said Forrest. "I'm in the woodcutting business, but if another opportunity to get paid comes along on the side, I put in the effort so I can earn me some green."
"…Interesting." Said Okoth. "I just put together burritos, nothing much beyond that."
"Whatever it is you do, hard work will bring you a long way." Smiled Forrest. "Keep that tenant closely in mind and you'll be destined for success."
"That's true, though some people aren't compensated enough for their work." Added Okoth.
"Let's not get all political and whatnot, now…" Chuckled Hayden.
"Never a fun t-topic of discussion." Agreed Yusuf.
"I wasn't going to go there, but if you so wish…" Shrugged Okoth.
"I don't know about what you guys think, but Chris hasn't been so bad to us yet." Stated Hayden curiously.
"I bet he's holding back for now." Shrugged Forrest. "Although supposedly some people thought I provoked him in the mess hall earlier."
"He had a b-bizarre look in his eye then." Said Yusuf. "Though he's usually making faces for the camera, s-so maybe it was nothing."
"Don't worry about it, at least he'll go after me first and not you." Ensured Forrest.
"Aw shucks you three, it may be a little tougher tomorrow but it sure won't kill us." Said Hayden. "Like Forrest said, if we work our hardest things can't be too bad.
"I don't see anything wrong with that idea." Smiled Okoth. "I'm pretty tired though, so maybe we can start putting in the effort when we wake up tomorrow."
"A sufficient level of rest is just as important." Noted Hayden. "Bust your ass all ya want, but everyone needs a break eventually."
"That makes me look forward to tomorrow." Smiled Yusuf.
"Glad it does, partner." Replied Hayden.
"See you all in the morning." Said Forrest as he turned off the lights and went to bed.
"Night." Replied Okoth before each guy shut his eyes for the night.
(Confessional: Two strong muscular men in one bunk, and two smaller shyer guys on the other. Quite the dichotomy!)
Hayden: I got a taste of everyone's background before we called it a day. Forrest and I have been through school already, whereas the other guys are still in the midst of going through their education. While I'm well aware that this isn't going to be an easy game, I'm glad everyone I've talked to so far is getting along just fine.
Yusuf: Controlling my stutters in front of others seems to be working, but it's still been very difficult to hold them back. My friend Jess was the one who motivated me to sign up for this show in the first place, so hopefully I can make her proud.
Forrest: All my life, I've pulled myself up by my bootstraps and it's gotten me quite far as of today. I know that in Total Drama people like that can be considered a threat, though early on I'm sure I'll be an asset in a physical challenge. Having an alliance also helps, but that's a secret to be kept for now. Long story short, make sure to keep an eye out for me because I'm going places.
Okoth: I would've gone for the top bunk, but I did the polite thing first and asked Yusuf wanted it instead…which he did, much to my temporary dismay. And you know what, he's kind of like me in a few ways. I mean, he's WAY more nervous in general, though the connection is there. Either way, I'll make sure to stick closely by him…he needs a friend.
Benatar, Quorin and Vern were all ready for bed, but stayed awake since they weren't tired enough to doze off just yet. Benatar lay on the top bed of his own bunk, while Quorin chose to rest on the bottom bunk on the other side, and Vern on the top.
"I have to say, I've almost never been as happy to lay myself on a mattress as I am right now." Groaned Vern.
"Tell me about it." Remarked Benatar. "I didn't exactly have a ball in traversing this island from one end to the other."
"Why is that? What happened?" Asked Quorin as he took off his glasses and put them in a small case.
"I travelled to camp with two girls, and the whole time one of them was such an attention hog that I barely got to speak at all and…and she just seemed like she was trying to bother me." Explained Benatar.
"Ouch, that's harsh." Winced Vern. "Who was it?"
"Lana, I believe. She kept occupying Sawyer with hours upon hours of pointless banter." Answered Benatar.
"Why do you think she did it?" Asked Vern with eyebrows raised.
"Likely to build a bond with her, and not allow me the opportunity to do the same." Frowned Benatar.
"Certainly underhanded, but also far from anything unethical." Remarked Quorin.
"It was still unnecessary to make an enemy out of me." Huffed Benatar.
"Did you at the very least overhear anything important while they were chatting?" Asked Quorin curiously.
"In a word, no. All Lana kept talking about was which movie actors she'd bring to bed." Gagged Benatar. "And if I was guessing, Sawyer didn't really care either but forced herself to pretend like she did."
The three nodded to each other, as this seemed likely. Moments later, Vern suddenly noticed something that seemed a bit off.
"…Say, you didn't appear to be all that talkative when you were introduced by Chris earlier." Noted Vern. "Why the sudden change?"
"Guess I'm just that much more chatty when I'm upset about something." Sighed Benatar, before adding. "And I had a bunch of caffeine along with dinner."
"Trust me, I didn't hide my frustrations either dude." Yawned Vern. "It mostly had to do with the elements, but I still need to work on that if I want to endear others to me."
"I advise that you both keep your ears open wherever you go…there's no telling if something you hear could prove useful at a later time." Advised Quorin.
"Do you mean eavesdropping?" Asked Vern with an eyebrow raised. "That could get you into at least some trouble if you're caught."
"I never said anything about eavesdropping." Responded Quorin. "Just make sure you listen well to what others say around you."
"How will that help?" Asked Benatar.
"In ways you may never know." Responded Quorin.
"…You're kind of weird, dude." Said Vern.
"Glass house bro." Smirked Benatar.
"Hey!" Exclaimed Vern, before smiling himself. "I suppose it makes sense that we all roomed together, then."
"He's learning fast." Thought Quorin.
"I'm certain that Chris would put the three of us on a team together, if it were up to him. Like, in a challenge of Offbeats versus Populars or something." Chuckled Vern.
"And then shackle us all while giving the other team a five minute head start." Added Benatar with a silly grin.
Benatar and Vern continued to make jokes at their own expense and laugh heartily, whereas Quorin lightly smirked before yawning and lowering his head onto a pillow.
"They'd better not tell Chris, because he might seriously consider it." Murmured Quorin.
With another yawn, Quorin closed his eyes and fell asleep rather quickly, eventually followed by his jokester roommates.
(Confessional: It's as though some of these people have never even heard of Murphy's Law.)
Vern: There's going to be very little room for mistake-making tomorrow. Whether I'm on an eccentric team or a brainy team…whatever goes I'll deal. Small talk is a nice start to it all but I have to pad the bottom line quickly so I can get other people on my side.
Quorin: The other guys here seem to volunteer their life stories with minimal provocation. Personally I'd rather hold my cards real close, or at least the few I have right now. I haven't ruled too many people out for allies, but unfortunately a few have no chance of me trusting them at this point…the indicative signs have appeared quite early through elementary social blunders.
Benatar: What I said about glass houses, it was just a callback to what Vern said to Zenith earlier today, not any kind insult. Meanwhile, Quorin boasts about how he listens closely to everything; I have a pretty good pair of ears myself. When it comes to my mouth, however…haven't found too many good uses for it just yet.
In the women's building, everybody was also settling down for the night. Citra, Effie and Paige inhabited one of the rooms currently, where all three had chosen to take a shower prior to sleeping as opposed to waiting until morning to do so. Now that they'd put on their sleepwear, the girls were making small talk before they called it a night.
"That sure was one heck of an opener, wasn't it girls?" Asked Citra as she was lightly wiping the lens of her camera clean.
"You can say that again, homie." Smiled Paige as she plopped onto her bunk, which was below Effie's.
"Don't tempt me." Chuckled Citra as she placed the camera into its container for safekeeping.
"Call me crazy, but wasn't the food great?" Asked Paige with a goofy grin. "I was practically dreading the moment I walked into that mess hall, but color me impressed!"
"I'd guess that Chef made an effort to prepare better, healthier food for us." Remarked Effie.
"It isn't impossible, but why make the change when, for the first time the participants are NOT teenagers?" Asked Citra.
"Could be a coincidence, but I wouldn't be too shocked if Chef simply decided to improve his cooking since the last time he was here." Shrugged Paige. "Either way, I'm definitely stoked about it."
"If the food isn't dangerous anymore, maybe Chris won't pummel us into rubble with the challenges." Said Citra hopefully.
"Chef and Chris are both very different." Stated Effie. "You can't assume anything based off of something else unrelated."
"…I did ask him nicely not to be too harsh in the future." Reasoned Citra uncertainly.
"We'll just take what he gives us." Smirked Paige. "I won't crack under a little pressure."
"…I doubt I would either, but I might succumb to fatigue real soon because boy am I tired!" Exclaimed Citra as she threw herself onto one of the bottom bunks.
"The setting of the sun usually indicates when I begin to wind down for the night." Remarked Effie. "I'm actually quite surprised to have stayed up this late in the first place."
"Welcome to our world, Effie." Chuckled Paige as she climbed up the ladder to the bed above Citra.
Everybody seemed ready to doze off, but as Citra was reaching for the lamp's light switch on the bedside stand, she noticed that Effie was sitting in front of her bed and had her hands together while muttering something under her breath.
"Whatcha doing over there?" Asked Citra curiously.
"Giving my evening prayer before tucking myself into bed." Explained Effie. "It is important that I be thankful for every day and the positive happenings in my life…this is very routine where I come from."
"Aw, that's really sweet." Said Paige while smiling warmly. "I'm sure He's got your back either way, but it sure is a caring gesture to make regardless."
It was about twenty seconds before Effie was done. After that and doing the sign of the cross, Effie tucked herself under the covers and sighed as she sank into the softness of the mattress.
"Good night." Said Citra as she turned the lights off.
"Sweet dreams." Replied Effie.
(Confessional: Don't let the bed bugs sneak into your room and use an ancient potion to shrink you down to exactly their size.)
Effie: For my own sake, I snuck in a quick request to ask if I could maybe be on the winning team tomorrow. All I know is that things aren't going to be a walk in the park either way…
Paige: I'm pretty exhausted right now, but my mind keeps racing as I've been thinking about what's coming, and it's keeping me awake. Not to mention I really wanted to take my clothes off before bed…they're just not comfortable to sleep in. Since I don't know anyone here that well though, I'll just keep my panties on until they get used to me being me for a while.
Citra: I've already logged at least one hundred photos on my SD Card; tomorrow it'll probably be two hundred!
April, Joyce and Sawyer were grouped in one of the other rooms. All three seemed relatively chipper and talkative despite being full from dinner and tired physically from the hike…though more accurately is was Joyce and Sawyer that were doing all the talking, while April mostly listened.
"I don't know why anybody is complaining, to be honest." Remarked Sawyer. "Not only was today a fantastic beginning, but I'm super stoked to be here because I came a very long way to play!"
"You must be a very dedicated fan for sure." Smiled Joyce. "Where are you from?"
"Central India." Replied Sawyer. "I love my family and my country very dearly, yet I had to jump at the opportunity to apply for Total Drama."
"Most people regret the things they didn't do that they could've, so I'm sure that you won't regret signing up." Stated Joyce.
"Y-yeah, the adventure of a lifetime, and stuff." Interjected April.
"Exactly…say, you've been really quiet tonight." Noticed Sawyer. "What was your name again?"
"I'm April, and well…I don't have much to say that often." Replied April as she avoided making eye contact.
"Sounds to me like you're too uncertain of yourself." Stated Sawyer. "Also, I recommend looking people in the eye, since it creates more of a bond than when you look away."
"…That's pretty hard to do, know what I mean?" Explained April.
"It may be hard, but it's up to you to try." Insisted Sawyer.
"Settle down, you two." Said Joyce. "Now Sawyer, whether or not you're right you must be careful who you're honest with. April and I appreciate your help, but be sure to use tact as you point out peoples' supposed shortcomings."
"Sorry. Guess I can be a bit critical." Apologized Sawyer.
"It's okay, really it is, so no worries." Assured April.
"Did either of you find any boys to be attractive?" Asked Joyce. "I personally found some to be quite handsome…particularly that burly farmer."
"I know, right?" Smirked Sawyer. "I betcha he's really tasty."
"Whoa now, you said it first. Not me." Chuckled Joyce.
April could only blush due to noticing the direction their conversation was headed.
"There are many jokes I could make, but I'll withhold them all for tonight." Giggled Sawyer.
"Probably a good choice, because if we opened that can of worms the we'd be up for hours." Assured Joyce before yawning.
"Time for bed already?" Asked Sawyer.
"The sun has long set, so probably." Shrugged April.
"April is quite on point- we should call it a night." Suggested Joyce.
"Not saying you both have to, but I'd like to be well-rested for tomorrow." Said April.
"No need to preface what you say with that, we understand." Assured Sawyer. "Though I do agree, so I guess we'll call it a night."
"I don't mind that one bit, dear." Smiled Joyce. "Just let me set my alarm before I settle in for a slumber."
(Confessional: Why do these contestants seem compelled to use fancy language when describing everything they're doing? Wouldn't you want to appear as someone who's not intelligent?)
Joyce: I've been observing the behaviors of the others and listening to what these people casually reveal about themselves. Up to this point, I've picked up on a few facts that I can use to my advantage very soon…
Sawyer: Seriously, April needs to toughen up. If she keeps talking to people like that, they're sure to take advantage of her for being as meek as she acts. I only gave her constructive criticism, and I doubt she took it to heart.
April: Even though I myself am a girl, other women are very complicated and sometimes scary. During most conversations, it's hard to find a place to jump in without feeling like you totally interrupted and ruined it. Sawyer was right about me, but it's a lot harder than you'd think it is to change…
Desiree, Lana, Ree, and Zenith were all gathered together in one of the rooms. At the moment there was a debate over who would get the top bunks.
"I'm getting one of the top bunks, end of discussion." Declared Zenith.
"…Okay." Said Desiree as she strolled over to the bed underneath Zenith's.
Ree was about to go and claim the other top bunk, but Lana grabbed her by the shoulder.
"Hold on a second, I really like being on top." Stated Lana. "So if you don't mind, I'd seriously appreciate it if you let me have the other one."
"But I called it!" Argued Ree. "I told you that I wanted the top, and you said that you didn't care."
"That was before I knew that one of them was already going to be taken." Replied Lana in exasperation.
"Well, why on Earth can't you ask her to come down?" Frowned Ree.
"Feel free to challenge me for it." Stated Zenith. "I can't guarantee that you'll even manage to get me down from here, but it's an option."
Both Lana and Ree swallowed in fear of what that implied. Within moments, Ree threw up her arms and groaned loudly.
"Fine! Take the damn bed. I'll just remember not to room with you or her next time." Huffed Ree as she made a beeline for the other bottom bunk.
"Thank you, Ree. It's all I was asking for, really." Smiled Lana as she began climbing the other ladder.
Now that everybody had a bed for herself, nobody knew what to say to each other. The situation at hand had left an air of awkwardness to stew amongst the room's occupants.
"…Anybody enjoy the food?" Asked Desiree.
"It was pretty fantastic." Smirked Zenith. "I felt like it was a decent reward for finishing the hike before everybody else."
"Could've been better, but Chef definitely improved." Said Ree.
"I didn't even feel hungry until I began to eat, as I felt pretty content throughout the day." Stated Lana.
"I'm just looking forward to tomorrow." Admitted Ree. "We've been teased up until now, so maybe we'll start things for real in the morning."
"Oh, I've certainly had enough of the teasing." Smirked Lana. "I'm feeling quite thirsty for a challenge."
"You guys had better hope I'm on your team, because there's no doubt that I'll be winning that inaugural immunity." Declared Zenith.
"It's truly up to chance." Added Desiree.
"Then you'll be feeling lucky if you're grouped with me." Smiled Zenith.
"Sure, whatever." Replied Ree with an eye roll that went unseen.
"Hey Desiree, does your name end in r-e-e?" Asked Lana.
"…Yeah. Why?" Replied Desiree.
"That's pretty funny, because that's basically Ree's very name. It just so happens that Ree is inside of Desiree!" Chuckled Lana.
Everybody slowly turned their heads, and gave Lana an unimpressed stare. Ree even stuck her head out from under her bunk so she was looking up at the Chinese woman.
"…Is this the kind of stuff that you think about?" Asked Zenith.
"What?" Asked Lana. "One of the names fits entirely in…ohhhh."
Ree and Zenith groaned, while Desiree merely continued to stare blankly forward.
"…A swing and a miss." Said Desiree.
(Confessional: Don't write Lana's name backwards. DON'T.)
Lana: So I can be a bit crude sometimes, okay? Sue me. While this particular group didn't appreciate what I had to say, my other qualities tend to do me a lot of favors. I'm persistent, sometimes to the point of unyielding, yet that's consistently worked out for the better where I come from.
Ree: Can you really blame me for not gelling with most of those girls? Desiree was fairly quiet so I didn't mind her, but both those other two seem way too full of themselves for me to even be around. I give my first night here an F, for frustrating.
Desiree: We're a melting pot of strange qualities. And I'm talking very strange qualities…kind of like fondue.
Zenith: Mark my words; I will be on the winning team tomorrow. If I manage to be in some position of authority, I'll make sure I show everyone how valuable I can be to them in a challenge.
The last room in the women's building currently housed Meera, Utara and Xipil. On one side, Xipil had the bottom bunk while Meera had the top bunk, and on the other side Utara sat by herself on the bottom bunk.
"Golly gee, what an adventure!" Cheered Meera. "Can you guys believe we're actually on Total Drama right now?"
"I can." Stated Xipil. "While we are all lucky for being chosen in some way, I worked very hard to prove I want this."
"You came from out of the country, right?" Asked Meera. "I guess them finally allowing international applicants was a pretty good idea."
"You guess?" Asked Xipil with the raise of her eyebrow.
"Oh, I didn't, um…" Said Meera as she struggled to find words.
"I don't live there anymore, but I'm also from a country abroad." Said Utara in an effort to join the conversation.
"Oh, which one?" Asked Xipil with intrigue.
"I lived in Norway for most of my life." Replied Utara. "I dealt with both constant sunshine and constant darkness for years, so I chose to move away once I graduated from upper secondary."
"When did the modeling career start?" Asked Meera.
"I was a wee lass of sixteen." Chuckled Utara. "I simply figured it'd be good money that was relatively easy to make…lo and behold, I was right."
"You were pretty fortunate to have that opportunity." Remarked Xipil. "I, however, was not. Not only could I never model…all I could do in order to make money for my family was to become a professional fencer."
"Whoa…tell me more." Gasped Meera while clearly intrigued.
"I had to work my way up the ladder over time. And one fact about me you should know is that I've never lost a match. EVER." Beamed Xipil proudly.
"…Groovy." Said Meera. "You must be a legend amongst your community."
"I tend not to think in those terms." Stated Xipil. "I am talented, yes, even well known. Yet I don't consider myself above others just because I excel in fencing."
"Still, to have never lost before is surely an accomplishment." Shrugged Utara.
"I'm still only a student." Chuckled Meera. "You both have already done so much compared to me."
"While that may be true in terms of having an occupation…college sounds pretty nice." Sighed Utara.
"Agreed." Added Xipil. "That is one thing you've gotten to do that neither of us have yet."
"Oh. That makes sense…" Said Meera in realization.
The three girls looked between each other, the atmosphere growing slightly more awkward as the silence persisted.
"…Cool. Good night then." Yawned Meera as she turned over and faced the wall.
"Likewise." Shrugged Utara as she pulled the covers over herself and hoped to fall asleep quickly.
Xipil shook her head as she got out of bed, walked over to the light, turned it off, and then returned to her bunk. Unfortunately, she had settled into a comfortable position beforehand, and was struggling to find it once again.
(Confessional: When you don't know where a conversation went wrong. Just that it did.)
Meera: What was I thinking? First I sound really insensitive to Xipil, and then both her and Utara make me feel like an elitist snob for having gone to college while they both had to take up terrible jobs! If anything, this shows me I'm much better at conversing with guys, and not other women.
Xipil: First off, Meera is weird. Fairly nice, but weird. Secondly, I wanted to say to my beloved ma and pa…I'll win this for you guys. I hate my job so much, but I'm always doing it for you. I just need to make sure I choose my affiliates carefully.
Utara: I get the idea that Meera felt bad after I mentioned that I hadn't gone to college before…not really the point of it, but it definitely drove a rift between her and Xipil. Speaking of that…that poor girl must feel incredible pressure whenever she faces an opponent. If she ever lost a match, it'd probably ruin her completely. Chances are, she's viewing this game in the exact same way. I'm similarly motivated, but my life will be okay if I don't win.
The next morning, a majority of the campers were still in bed as the sun rose in the sky east of the island. Despite the fact that there was no grand awakening by Chris, a few campers had already risen from bed. Kanapi was the first to exit from the cabins with his walking stick, and was holding a small map of the island quadrant containing camp.
"I should have plenty of time before breakfast to do a three-miler." Figured Kanapi as he folded the map and placed it in a smaller pocket of his pants.
As he was about to head off onto one of the small nature trails surrounding camp, Kanapi heard the door open and close behind him. He turned around to see Quorin standing there, adjusting his glasses.
"Good morning, Kanapi." Said Quorin.
"Good morning yourself." Smiled Kanapi as he slightly lowered his head. "Say, I do not recall us talking face to face. Yet, you already appear to know my name. You even pronounced it correctly."
"Someone mentioned it in a conversation I had yesterday." Replied Quorin. "Besides, you're the only Native American person here. I just connected the dots."
"Hmm, that is understandable." Shrugged Kanapi. "Anyway, what has you up so early?"
"I was just going to go for a walk." Answered Quorin. "I like to do that sometimes."
"Well, I was just about to go for one myself. Care to join me?" Offered Kanapi.
"Thanks for the offer, but I was actually wanting to go by myself this time." Stated Quorin. "Maybe at breakfast we can talk, if you'd like."
"That sounds fine." Smiled Kanapi. "Anyway, the morning is short so I shall be on my way."
Soon enough, Kanapi entered the forest, leaving Quorin by himself. After a moment of thinking to himself, he walked in a different direction to enter another part of the woods.
"Perhaps an idol is hidden close to camp?" Mused Quorin.
(Confessional: The early bird catches the idol.)
Kanapi: Out of habit, I would rise incredible early on my travels, usually spotting the sun on the horizon as I ascended a hill or two. Plus, it allows me to think more clearly during the rest of the day. Considering all there is to think about in this game, it will be incredibly helpful to me.
Quorin: Since assumedly nobody has an idol yet, I figured a quick search near camp would be fine. I won't spend too much time in the woods since the others might grow suspicious if I do, but at the very least I'll remember what areas I've looked through if I start doing it now.
A few minutes after Quorin left the area, Benatar wordlessly exited the cabin with his fishing gear and headed over to the old Dock of Shame. He cast his line into the water once he'd set up everything, and waited patiently for a bite as he stared out into the misty waters of Lake Wawanakwa.
A blue booby floated in the water, which Benatar fixed his eyes on as it drifted from his left to his right. Soon enough, it dove its head into the water for some tiny minos before flying off into the mist, letting itself be seen no more.
(Confessional: This confessional was added in post-production.)
Benatar: ...Worms, man. They squish.
About an hour and a half later, almost everybody had exited the cabins and begun hanging around in the main camp area. In one section of the camp grounds, Paige had found Hayden and brought him over to one of the many benches so they could talk.
"Good morning, Hayden." Greeted Paige with a nod.
"You too." Smiled Hayden. "So, what's up? What did you want to talk about?"
"Well, not much but…first of all, I'm sorry if I was really weird yesterday." Apologized Paige. "It was just the nervousness I get from meeting new people, you know?"
"That's quite alright." Chuckled Hayden. "All that walking probably got to us."
"Indeed. So, I wanted to ask you something yesterday that I couldn't, because we had company…" Began Paige.
"Before you continue any further, I'm already happily taken so I'm not looking for any kind of romance while here." Warned Hayden.
Paige stopped for a moment, a slight twinge of disappointment overcoming her. Hayden apparently detected this, bracing himself for a wave of tears. However, she was able to shrug it off very quickly as she let out a small chuckle.
"Oh, that isn't what I was going to say." Said Paige nervously as she ran a hand through her long blonde hair. "I'll admit now that you're a pretty attractive guy, but I'm not looking for romance either."
"Oh, thank goodness." Sighed Hayden. "I didn't want to break anybody's heart out here, least of all you."
"Right, right. Moving on, I was curious if you were interested in working together in this game with me." Offered Paige.
"So you want an alliance, huh?" Asked Hayden. "Why with me, exactly?"
"From our time spent together yesterday, you came across as very socially suave, intelligent, and like someone who can handle harsh conditions." Explained Paige.
"Why, I'm flattered!" Chuckled Hayden. "You know what, I'm in."
"Fantastic." Smiled Paige. "Now, we should definitely add more people to our alliance today, so if I were you I'd work your magic so that we have a voting bloc if we need it."
"Hey guys, what's up?" Asked someone.
The two turned their heads to see Sawyer approaching their bench.
"Hey partner, you have a good night's nice rest?" Asked Hayden.
"I most certainly did." Smiled Sawyer as she took a seat next to Paige. "What're you guys up to?"
Paige carefully considered what she might say, before deciding that this was the exact opportunity she was waiting for.
"Hayden and I were discussing forming an alliance." Stated Paige truthfully. "Would you like to be a part of it, too?"
"An alliance? Sweet!" Exclaimed Sawyer, before realizing how loud she was and lowering her voice. "I'd love to be a part of that."
Thankfully, nobody heard her.
"Awesome. Did you make friends with anyone yesterday, by chance?" Asked Paige.
"Sure did." Smiled Sawyer. "I had a very long chat with Lana yesterday. We practically see eye to eye already."
Hayden and Paige looked at each other uncertainly.
"Wasn't that the really flirty woman?" Asked Hayden.
"Oh, trust me. I was thinking the same thing at first, but she's wonderful." Explained Sawyer. "Seriously, she's got a lot of life experience, and is also really smart too."
"Numbers are numbers, I guess." Shrugged Hayden. "Glad to have you with us either way."
"What about you guys?" Asked Sawyer. "Are there perhaps others whom the two of you bonded with yesterday that we could also include?"
"Seems that I've got a friend in Citra, so she should totally be on board if I go talk to her about it." Smiled Paige.
"That's good to hear. I was actually talking to Forrest last night as well as this morning; he seems pretty cool as well." Assured Hayden. "Well would you look at that! Seems to me like that's three more people we can pull closer to us."
"Indeed, six will do nicely for an alliance. Anyways, I'm going to go talk to some other people right now…wouldn't want anyone to think we're tight." Winked Sawyer as she headed off into another section of camp.
"Think we can count on her to remain loyal?" Asked Paige.
"I do recall her claiming she'd tell things like they are." Said Hayden. "If that's the case, then we should have no problem with her on board."
(Confessional: As a friend of mine has said many countless times, anything can happen. Time will tell. Indeed.)
Sawyer: Good thing I happened to stumble upon that opportunity, huh? I'll admit it was mostly because Hayden is a real cutie…but like he said, numbers are numbers. That's a very important thing to remember indeed.
Hayden: This is a good start to my plan. Also, I know Paige was lying about liking me…I could just tell she was disappointed. However, it seems she handled it pretty well, so it's great I nipped that problem in the bud. Thankfully my beloved Francine told me it's fine if I work alongside other pretty girls as long as it stays platonic.
Paige: So Hayden is taken? Darn shame. At least now I can focus on my strategy, and build up the new alliance to ensure I stay safe in this game.
On the other side of camp, Ianto and Joyce sat on the grass in front of Effie, who was reading a verse from her pocket bible.
"Proverbs 25:19…like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble." Read Effie.
"Very foreboding." Smiled Ianto. "I guess that applies to everyone here too, since trusting the right person matters greatly."
"It sure does." Agreed Joyce. "I get the feeling that you're a very trustworthy person, Effie."
"Thank you, Joyce." Smiled Effie. "I feel like I can trust you, too. And Ianto, of course."
"Sometimes being completely open about everything can work out as a strategy." Nodded Ianto.
"That's going to be my plan." Explained Effie. "After all, at that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another."
"Hold on. Which verse was that one?" Asked Joyce.
"Matthew 24:10." Replied Effie. "I don't necessarily expect that everyone will kind enough to abstain from that, but I will do everything I can to be honest with my fellow campers."
"You're a real sweetheart, you know that?" Smiled Joyce.
"Just promise us you'll be very careful." Warned Ianto.
"Don't worry, I will be." Smiled Effie. "And just know, I'm not doing this to convert you. This is just part of my routine back home. I'm happy you're listening, though."
At that moment, Quorin exited the woods and noticed the three sitting in a circle.
"What're you guys up to?" Asked Quorin.
"Just a small 'discussion' we're having." Said Joyce. "Effie here saved Ianto and I from a boring morning."
"Interesting. I'd possibly join in, but I need to go and grab something in the cabin." Said Quorin.
"Sounds good. See you around, man." Smiled Ianto as Quorin left the area.
As soon as he was gone, Citra ran up to the three, jumping up and down once she got close enough.
"Hey Effie, c'mere! I saw some really cool stuff over by the arts and crafts center!" Exclaimed Citra excitedly. "Wanna come with me while I snap some photos?"
"Sure, I'd love to." Replied Effie, turning to the other two. "You guys don't mind if I go with her, do you?"
"Not at all, dear." Smiled Joyce. "Go ahead, we want you to enjoy yourself. Don't worry about us."
"Okay." Smiled Effie as she followed Citra, who led her elsewhere.
"That was such a nice little discussion we had with her, wasn't it?" Asked Joyce with a warm smile.
"I guess. Just so you know though, I can see right through your act. I could tell you weren't enjoying that one bit." Stated Ianto.
"Huh? What do you mean? I would've been absolutely driven mad with boredom otherwise." Responded Joyce.
"C'mon, you're not fooling me." Smirked Ianto. "Just knock it off, alright? Don't insult my intelligence."
Joyce thought for a second, deciding how she should respond to this. Eventually, she heaved a deep sigh.
"…Fine, you got me." Frowned Joyce. "I mean, she really is a sweetheart, but it'll definitely going to hurt her in the long run if she can't be a little devious."
"That may be so." Shrugged Ianto. "All I wanted to say is, I'm fairly impressed."
"Thanks. Just don't tell anybody, okay?" Insisted Joyce.
"Alright, I promise." Said Ianto in mock surrender. "Besides, I tend to stay out of business that isn't mine to begin with."
"Smart lad." Smirked Joyce as she got up to go somewhere else.
Once she was out of hearing range, Ianto stroked his chin in thought.
"I wonder what my strategy should be." He wondered.
(Confessional: You seriously don't know? C'mon dude.)
Joyce: Don't misunderstand; my strategy isn't about being mean. It's about being devious. If I had no filter, I'd obviously be one of the cheekiest people ever. Of course, given the fact that I need to make people like me, I can't behave like that.
Ianto: There are some ideas currently floating around in my head, but the trick is grabbing the right one from within myself and using it properly in practice. Right now? I'm going to focus on being a good team player in the challenge, and hopefully win. First though, there's a little downtime before that happens.
Effie: I'm glad to find others who share my love of the written gospel. The fact that Ianto and Joyce came to me may show how much they appreciate how genuine I am about how I feel. It's quite therapeutic actually.
Xipil was by herself, doing pushups on the grass near the old campfire ceremony grounds used for season one. And it wasn't those measly "girl" pushups, oh no. She quickly tore through a routine of the real ones at an amazingly rapid pace.
"Forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven!" Huffed Xipil as she moved up and down to a song in her head.
As she continued to relentlessly tackle her exercise, Xipil heard footsteps nearby, and craned her head to see Niko walking towards her.
"Morning, man!" Greeted Niko cheerfully. "How's everything going and stuff?"
"Simply doing my morning training routine." Replied Xipil. "It keeps me nimble and my blood pumping."
"Sweet! Sounds like it'd go along nicely with a complete breakfast." Smiled Niko. "Anyways, I wanted to chat with you about something."
"Go ahead, I don't have anywhere to be." Stated Xipil as she switched to doing sit-ups.
"Perfect. See, I tried to rally everyone else into an alliance on the docks yesterday, though I'm not sure how well it worked or anythin'." Explained Niko.
"Well, how did it go?" Asked Xipil.
"My proverbial inbox hasn't gotten a lot of replies so far, though I'll take care of things on an individual level if this continues." Said Niko in thought.
"Huh, sorry to hear that." Shrugged Xipil as she stood up to stretch her arms.
"That being said and all, would you like to be in an alliance with me, bro?" Asked Niko. "You're the only one here I haven't asked yet."
"I'm the only one he hasn't asked, and nobody else has even gotten back to him? Wonder what picture this paints…" Thought Xipil.
"What do you think, Holmes?" Asked Niko. "At the very least, we can promise to not vote for each other. I'd really like that."
Xipil looked like she was in thought for a moment as she was stretching her quads.
"Know what? That sounds pretty nice to me." Smiled Xipil. "Alright, I won't vote for you so long as you promise me the same."
"Sure thing, man." Smirked Niko. "Think we can also have some, eh, discussions should we be on the same team?"
"I'll make sure to keep an open mind." Chuckled Xipil. "Feel free to talk to me again if you need help, little guy."
"Dully noted." Smiled Niko as he turned around and walked off into another area of camp.
Xipil wiped the sweat off of her face with a small towel as she sat down on one of the wooden stumps.
"I really hope that kid is gonna be okay." Said Xipil.
(Confessional: Oh Mata Nui, where does his destiny lie?)
Niko: One down! And, um, there are a few more here or there left to go, I guess.
Xipil: Niko and I have somewhat of a natural connection, both of us having a little Hispanic blood in us and all. That said…in almost every other area, we're like apples and oranges. He'd better stay out of trouble, or else I may not be able to provide any help to him whatsoever.
At around 9:00 AM, Chris gave an announcement over the loudspeakers that rallied the campers inside the mess hall for breakfast. Fortunately at that moment, Kanapi walked back into camp so that he knew what was going on. Benatar also put his fishing gear away to join the others at this time.
"What's on the menu tomorning?" Asked April.
"Grits, mandarin oranges, and bacon? Doesn't sound too bad." Remarked Okoth.
"You kidding me? That sounds like heaven." Said Desiree as everybody filed into the mess hall.
Before long, everyone had sat down in one of the seats and several morning conversations began to unfold. Amidst the chat, Gavin noticed Zenith making a hand signal from down the table at him (which they themselves came up with) to suggest that they should avoid being seen talking together for a while. He then heard a loud groan from nearby.
"Gosh darn it, my grits got all over everything else." Pouted Forrest. "My breakfast is now ruined!"
"Don't be so melodramatic, please." Advised Ree.
"…Wanna trade plates with me?" Offered Forrest.
"Um, no thanks." Frowned Ree.
"I'd mind your manners if I were you, now! The nerve of you asking a lady to take your unfortunately plated mess." Frowned Gavin. "Unless you'd rather go hungry today that is."
"Not in a million years pal. Fine, whatever." Shrugged Forrest with aggravation as he started begrudgingly picking at his meal.
"Such an animal." Scoffed Gavin.
"Hey man, no worries. I've dealt with worse things than a lack of manners at the table." Assured Ree. "Still, thanks."
"Of course. It's just the plain audacity that gets me…" Said Gavin with the shake of his head.
"Dude, I'm sorry." Frowned Forrest. "Just stop talking about it and we can all be cool again."
"Look, it's fine." Sighed Ree. "You don't have to defend yourself, all I did was say no."
(Confessional: Who doesn't love grits? Especially when they get runny and ooze all over your plate. Yum!)
Ree: I didn't need Gavin to step in there, since Forrest is my ally and I didn't really care. Hopefully small spats like these never evolve into bigger ones.
Gavin: If any chump acted that way in front of my master, they would be immediately banned from being within five miles of any Hazelrink™ property lines.
Kanapi and Quorin both sat next to each other at one of the tables, as both had "promised" earlier. Desiree and Lana sat across from both, the latter of which was grimacing at her food.
"Ick. This bacon is all fat…there's not enough actual meat on the strips." Complained Lana.
"You're complaining about that?" Remarked Desiree. "That tends to be the tastiest part."
"Sorry, I'm just not really much for the fat. I just really, really love meat." Groaned Lana.
"…Wasn't that exactly what you said the first time?" Asked Quorin.
"I guess it was. Sue me." Huffed Lana.
"Woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" Asked Kanapi innocently.
"Cheeky." Frowned Lana. "While I'm not a fan of the breakfast, I actually slept just fine."
"Ah, glad to hear." Smiled Kanapi.
"…Did you girls have any interesting conversations last night?" Asked Quorin.
"Not really." Said Desiree.
"It was somewhat telling." Remarked Lana. "I learned that some people don't have a great sense of humor on this island."
"…That sounds quite unfortunate." Said Quorin.
Silence filled the air, the two guys giving each other a neutral look and shrugging in confusion. Desiree turned to Lana, her soulless eyes burrowing holes into her skull.
"…Can I have your bacon?" Asked Desiree. "…Please?"
"Go for it. In fact, just go and eat it all." Sighed Lana as her entire plate was grabbed from her in an instant.
Desiree hurriedly wolfed down the bacon first, then the oranges and finally the grits. Having entirely licked the plate clean, Desiree turned back to Lana once more, and then patted her softly on the head.
"My hero." Said Desiree with no trace of emotion.
FLASH!
Citra had taken a picture of this "heartwarming" moment and seemed very pleased with the result.
"So cute!" Cried Citra as she ran off to someplace else.
(Confessional: That one's a sizzler!)
Citra: My "picture perfect moment" senses were tingling, and boy was that quite a catch! I never thought it'd be THIS much fun.
Lana: You don't understand how hard it is to not see everyone here as a blithering idiot.
Desiree: That meal satiated my carnal hunger senses. For now.
Soon enough, Chris entered the mess hall while carrying behind him contraption on wheels covered by a cloth. By this time, everyone was done with his or her breakfast, so now all twenty-six campers were gathered in front of him to await his upcoming instructions.
"Good morning everybody! Now, I apologize for dropping the ball and having breakfast be so late in the morning…but now that you all have had your fill, it's time for your guys' first real challenge!" Announced Chris. "Who's ready?"
"I was ready yesterday, buster!" Shouted Zenith with gusto.
"Fantastic." Smirked Chris. "Now, first things first we'll need to separate you all into teams for this challenge. Since there's only one way to divide twenty-six, there'll be thirteen of you on each side."
"How are you going to decide the teams?" Asked Benatar.
"Dude, did you not pay any attention to what I said yesterday?" Deadpanned Chris. "There's going to be a randomizer that decides the teams prior to every challenge. This is all going to be up to chance."
Chris then pulled the cloth form off the contraption next to him, showing it to be a very complex machine, labeled R.A.N.D.O.M. As the campers gazed in awe at this contraption, Chris set two large mats on the ground, one black and one dark orange.
"The heck does that stand for?" Asked Vern.
"WHOA! Where were you all morning, dude?" Asked Tovi.
"Right back at ya, bro." Remarked Vern.
"To answer your question Vern, it stands for the Rotating Algorithm Noumenon Dispersive Orientation Manufacturer." Stated Chris. "I hope that answers your question."
"You literally did exactly that." Deadpanned Utara.
"Regardless of your opinion, I'm going to have this machine randomly generate the lineup for one of the teams. After that, we'll determine the other team from who's left over." Stated Chris, pressing a button on the machine.
R.A.N.D.O.M. made several beeping noises and slightly rumbled as it was randomly producing a list of the available names in the cast roster. Before long, a list of thirteen names was produced, prompting Chris to tear it off and look it over.
"…Okay! If you hear me call your name, go and stand on the orange mat." Instructed Chris.
"April"
"Citra"
"Desiree"
"Forrest"
"Hayden"
"Ianto"
"Joyce"
"Lana"
"Niko"
"Paige"
"Sawyer"
"Tovi"
"Yusuf"
The thirteen campers who'd been named all stood together, quickly taking a few moments to observe whom they were with.
"You guys will be named the Marrow Mashers!" Declared Chris.
"Hey, there are a lot more people concentrated in the upper half of the alphabet." Noticed Yusuf.
"Don't mind that, sweetie." Smiled Joyce. "Our team looks pretty strong overall if you ask me."
"Hell yeah!" Smirked Niko. "This is going to be a curb-stomp through and through."
"Someone please put me out of my misery this instant." Groaned Lana.
Chris smirked at the reactions the campers were having to their teammates.
"As for the rest of you thirteen, the following of you will head onto the black mat." Said Chris.
"Benatar"
"Effie"
"Gavin"
"Kanapi"
"Meera"
"Okoth"
"Quorin"
"Ree"
"Utara"
"Vern"
"Wentworth"
"Xipil"
"Zenith"
Chris grinned proudly as the black mat filled up with the latter thirteen contestants.
"And you thirteen are the Bone Bashers!"
"Like you really had to name us off too." Snarked Benatar.
"The audience needs to be reminded of all your names from time to time." Shrugged Chris.
"Yusuf was right, the alphabet dissonance really is a thing." Noted Okoth.
"Remember, that machine was totally unbiased in how it chose us for the teams." Reminded Meera.
"Wait, what's the deal with these incredibly grotesque team names?" Asked Wentworth.
"Probably something to do with bones or skeletons." Guessed Paige.
"You would be correct, Paige." Confirmed Chris. "The challenge is indeed bone-related. Come with me through the woods, where I will explain things and we can get this baby started."
A chorus of snickers arose from the crowd of contestants, much to the ire of some.
"This had better not involve bungee-jumping into vats of acid." Said April as everyone followed Chris out of the mess hall.
(Confessional: Course covering paleontology is not included.)
Benatar: A morning by the lake was enough to clear my mind before this challenge. Now I'm feeling a lot better after yesterday. Time to kick some butt!
Yusuf: I don't know why everyone found the challenge's concept funny. Dinosaurs are seriously creepy, and I'm just not very fond of skeletons in general.
Sawyer: Did Chris seriously describe this challenge as "bone-related"? You really can't phrase that too carefully around people our age.
Utara: I've been carefully taking note of everyone's behavior around camp and at breakfast. From what I've noticed so far, there's a lot of unfounded confidence in these people. Where does it come from? I can never quite tell.
Soon enough, the host had led all twenty-six contestants into a forest clearing where there was two building stations set up for the teams. Already in place lay two skeletal feet for each team to begin the puzzle, but nothing more. Elevated platforms were stacked nearby to allow the campers to build from a higher point once the skeleton was constructed higher.
The campers were certainly impressed by the structures that lay before them. They stared in awe and silence as Chris cleared his throat so he could explain the challenge.
"Allow me to provide you with a synopsis." Announced Chris. "In case you couldn't tell, today's challenge has to do with constructing a large skeleton. In this case, it is going to be of none other than the well known Tyrannosaurus Rex! Both teams will be digging in marked areas scattered throughout the forest to look for pieces of the skeleton puzzle. One you come across the puzzle pieces, i.e. bones, you'll bring them back to the building site so you can construct the skeleton from the feet up. You will be allowed to start putting the pieces together at any time you'd like, but remember that all pieces will be needed in order to complete this challenge properly."
"Sounds pretty straightforward." Remarked Quorin.
"In a way it is, but it won't be a simple task." Warned Chris. "The first team to fully complete their skeleton will win immunity and be safe from the vote. That worth playing for?"
"Sure is!" Exclaimed Effie excitedly.
"Glad to hear it." Smiled Chris. "You'll all be given a few minutes before we begin to strategize as to what you'll do."
"What is there to strategize about?" Asked Xipil.
"Since the burial sites are spread around throughout the woods, it is probably a good idea for both teams to separate into groups to cover ground faster." Explained Chris. "That being said though, some bones are harder to carry than others, so you'll have to group yourselves very carefully for maximum efficiency."
"Make sense to me." Said Hayden with a nod.
"Things could get complicated." Stated Kanapi.
"All the more reason not to waste your dwindling time! We're starting in five, people!" Exclaimed Chris.
The two teams all got themselves into a group circle to figure things out before they began to fight for immunity.
(Confessional: Seems that everybody is going to have a bone to pick with his or her team before long.)
Ianto: Finally, we're getting in on the action we signed up for! This win had better not go to the other team.
Meera: Communication will be key above all, so if we don't have that from the start, I'll try to make sure we have a clear low of information as we compete in this challenge.
Zenith: The moment has come; it's the perfect opportunity for me to shine. Time to show these chodes why they need me.
Tovi: The heat is on! If I don't feel like throwing up after this challenge is done, then I clearly will not have tried my hardest.
Now that the two teams for this episode have been established, we head into our first challenge for the coveted immunity win! Which team will prevail? And of the team that loses, who will be our first downtrodden loser? Whoever it is, they'll be given the biggest dishonor of the season.
Next Time: Two teams race to construct a T. Rex skeleton. Only one can win, as the losers have to vote someone out at the dreaded Bar of Reproach.