Disclaimer: "Happy Tree Friends" is a copyright of Mondo Media

[Since I don't bother much about who's wearing what, you guys are free to imagine what they're wearing – it doesn't matter to me.]

Happy Tree Friends: Camp Sanguine

Chapter 06 – Distractions & Disturbances

"Come on, over here!"

"No, this way! I'm wide open!"

The girls giggled as they tossed a beach ball around; ran back and forth along the bank. "W-Whoa!" Flaky yelped as she lost her footing and stumbled backwards into the cold lake.

SPLASH!

TWEET!

The dandruff-infested teen coughed and sputtered as she burst to the surface the moment she heard Pop's whistle cutting through the air. "Flaky, if you're planning to swim, go change into your swimsuit first," the camp director scolded. Moonlight leaned over to lend a hand…but ended up being pulled into the lake as she wasn't strong enough.

SPLASH!

"Sorry…" Flaky apologized, giggling along with Moonlight. "I'll get them," Splendont offered as he strolled over to the bank. Grabbing both girls' hands, he gently pulled them up to the bank while Lammy handed towels to the soaked girls.

"Since we all need to cool off, we're going to have a refreshing game of water volleyball after lunch," Pop announced, "What do you think?" He was answered by a series of cheers and hoots. "Alright then!" he added, "You kids do what you want while we set everything up."

Before the campers ran off, Pop had one other request. "Could someone look after Cub for me?" he asked, nearly having a panic attack as his toddler nearly walked into the lake without his water wings.

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WHOOSH!

Splendid zoomed past treetops, startling a few birds and knocking some fragile twigs off their branches with his speed. Cuddles and Giggles were having a stroll through the woods when he rushed past them; apologized as he accidentally lifted the pink-haired girl's skirt with some updraft. "Quit staring…" Giggles muttered as she brushed her sundress down; a blushing Cuddles instinctively looked away while trying to fight back a smirk.

Performing a few loops and keeping his speed steady, he glanced down and spied Petunia feeding Handy some freshly-baked brownies she had just brought from the dining hall. The blue hero sighed as he wished he had a girlfriend of his own, but he perished the thought when he recalled what Splendont told him.

"Girls are just a waste of time. You're better off being single – trust me."

'Heh, what does he know…' he thought, focusing on his training as he began zooming upwards towards the clear blue sky. The rush of cool air against his cerulean hair and eyes were nothing compared to the adrenaline pumping through his body. Just as he reached the peak, he made a swift u-turn and continued downwards. His hair whipped wildly and tears brimmed in his eyes as he continued picking up speed.

WHOOSH!

"What the?" Splendont muttered as he was woken up from his nap; sat up on the tree bough as he looked to the sky and noticed a familiar blue blur. 'There he goes again…' he mentally sighed as he climbed up to a higher branch, ready to take off for another 'rescue mission' when necessary.

He wasn't the only audience – Flippy (who was just done meditating), Flaky and Moonlight (who volunteered to baby-sit Cub while chatting and sharing snacks) looked up and watched as a blue shield-like energy curve appeared to form around Splendid.

'I can do this!' said hero claimed, 'That'll show my brother I'm no weakling!' He could feel the air closing in around him; his fingertips burned as he reached maximum speed, cutting through the air. It was also getting difficult to breathe, but he didn't care as he felt at this point he could finally –

"Uh oh…" he mumbled as he felt himself stop; screamed as he appeared to 'bounce' backwards, flipping end-over-end and getting dizzy in the process. "Gotcha!" Splendont yelled as he caught his blue twin in his arms. "Thanks…" Splendid growled as he got air-lifted back to the ground. "You didn't have to rush yourself. Give it some time before you try again," his red twin assured as he patted his back.

"Splendid, are you okay?" Moonlight asked as she rushed over. "I'm fine…sort of," grumbled the blue hero. His anger rapidly dissipated into speechless shock as she suddenly hugged him; he could feel his face heating up as he blushed involuntarily. Splendont scoffed and moved away just as Flippy and Flaky (who was carrying Cub) walked up to them. "Y-You can let go now…" Splendid stuttered.

Moonlight released him and stepped back, her shy blue eyes hidden behind her white bangs as she pretended to study the ground. "What was that about?" Flippy asked as he watched his sister turn and walk away; Flaky followed and the two resumed what they were doing. "Beats me…" Splendid replied, confusion plastered on his face.

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"This game will be boys versus girls," Pop announced as he held up a list of the chosen players.

Boys team: Cuddles, Handy, Flippy, Mime and Splendid

Girls team: Giggles, Petunia, Flaky, Lammy and Moonlight

"Pop, you know I can't play because I don't have any hands!" Handy grumbled. "Then use your stubs," the camp director calmly replied as he scratched his tan hair, "You did it last year." Said orange-haired teen pulled on a frustrated frown, dissipating as he knew it was pointless to argue anyway. The camp director then suggested everyone get changed into their swimming gear and could 'cool off' a few minutes in the lake while further adjustments are being made to the volleyball net.

"Moonlight, you can't play like that…" Giggles scolded. Said part-albino looked down at her blue-and-silver swimsuit riddled with randomly-sized black paw-prints; studied the pink-haired girl's glittery dark-pink outfit. Before she could argue they're both wearing two-piece swimsuits and saw no other reason, her argument fizzled into nothing as her hair got braided and tied behind her back. "Oh…you meant my hair," she muttered in embarrassment, "Thanks."

Flaky was treated in a similar way; sighed in frustration as Petunia rushed to the edge of the lake and began washing her hands for the next few minutes. However, she felt it's not her fault as dandruff flakes clung onto the braid. Lammy was – once again – talking to Mr. Pickles and asking him to stay and watch from the nearest tree before placing him there.

"…what…are you wearing?" Splendont muttered as he noticed 'Playboy Bunny' logos printed all over Cuddles' shorts. "Giggles bought this for me – got a problem with that?" the blond countered, earning an indifferent shrug from the red hero before watching him wade slightly further from the game field.

He hasn't gone far when he heard some quiet gurgling behind him. He then turned and thrust his hands into the water, pulling out and choking the sea green-haired twins by their necks. "When will you guys learn that sneaking up behind me doesn't work?" Splendont muttered in a bored tone. "Probably never," Splendid replied, "Anyway, let go – you're suffocating them."

Lifty and Shifty gulped in huge amounts of air as they were released; joined the rest of the boys, grumbling as their plan failed. Nutty was licking and sticking lollipops all over his face and hair; waved to Flaky as he flashed a grin. Said red-haired girl rolled her eyes and waded away from the candy-addicted guy. Mime and Toothy were splashing water at each other while Russell and Sniffles were pretending to be pirates; later joined in the water fight.

Disco Bear was enjoying himself as he stared at the girls' butts – or at least until Mole knocked him face-first into the water. "I know you're having fun, but staring at girls' behinds doesn't count," he scolded calmly noted as soon as the afro teen splashed out of the water. The afro teen asked how he knew what he was doing. "You were chuckling excitedly…" the girls' counselor replied. 'Dang…' Disco Bear cursed as he slapped his forehead.

TWEET!

"Flippy, hurry up," Lumpy called as he knocked on the boys' cabin door, "Or we'll start the game without you." Said teen soldier was just done stitching a hole and slipping on his green camouflage-print swimming trunks before rushing out towards the lake. He passed by Cro-Marmot who was 'chilling out' near a tree. Cub was floating beside his daddy via water wings.

'Fuck, it's cold!' Flippy thought, shivering as he entered the lake. "It's nothing compared to a little rain…" Flipqy reminded, making the teen soldier flash back to that night on the obstacle course; forced him and that memory out of his head as he focused on listening to the game rules. "Alright, let's go!" Pop announced, blowing his whistle and starting the game.

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10 minutes later – the girls had scored 6 against 4 with the boys, forcing Lumpy to re-evaluate his team's strategy…if he had one. Mole was congratulating the girls as they squealed and splashed around excitedly.

"Alright, enough screwing around!" the boys' counselor explained, "Just make sure the ball gets to the other side and hope they miss." Flippy intervened by saying he's got a better idea; even got Pop's permission to put it into action.

"The boys are up to something…" Mole whispered as he gathered the girls, "Whatever happens, keep your cool and enjoy the game, got it?" His hunch was right – the girls realized Pop refused to call a foul when the ball splashed way out of the field. "What the hell?" Petunia asked. "Change of plans – there are no rules," the camp director announced.

The girls gawked at the boys, who were slapping high-fives and hollering along with the audience. "Flippy…you are so dead…" Moonlight snarled at her brother; both siblings put on their 'game faces'. "Bring it on," the teen soldier taunted.

TWEET!

Splendid served, hitting the ball so high the boys couldn't help snickering as the girls waded around to hit it back. "I got it!" Flaky called out, jumping and managing to hit the ball towards Flippy, who then hit it to Moonlight…who missed and got hit square in the nose. "Whoa, whoa – time out!" Cuddles called while Flippy waded quickly to his sister.

"Ugh…" Moonlight moaned as she placed a hand over her bleeding nose; waved Flippy away before he could take a look. "Come on, it can't be that bad…" he persisted as he moved her hand away. Luckily, he managed to keep Flipqy sealed within him and insisted they hold the game until his sister's nose stops bleeding. "Maybe I can help," Splendid offered.

Flippy stepped back as Splendid breathed onto his hand; held it over Moonlight's swelling nose. 'What the…' she thought, 'His breath's ice-cold.' She also noticed it smells a bit like spearmint, and then she realized the blood had stopped flowing. "You guys can quit staring now…" Flippy chuckled as he caught them somewhat mesmerized for about a minute.

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"That was some game. Too bad neither team won even with the change in rules…" said Splendid as he showered along with some boys. "But at least we kicked their asses and showed them who's boss – right~?" Cuddles jeered, bonking heads with Handy. "Nobody kicked anybody's asses; if you ask me, we should've won…" Flippy noted, rinsing shampoo out of his lime-green hair.

"Speaking of 'asses'…" Disco Bear purred, "Those are a nice set of cheeks~!" Mime did a facepalm and proceeded to pull away the perverted teen, only to slam him back and unintentionally pressed his face against the window pane.

Meanwhile, in the girls' bathroom – Giggles and Petunia were scrubbing soap on each other when a girlish yelp startled them. "Sorry!" Flaky apologized as she accidentally bumped into Lammy. Said lavender-haired girl accepted the apology; later asked if Moonlight was already done bathing.

"She said she'll get to it once all four of us are done here," Petunia explained. "So…" Giggle noted, "Our 'camp newbie' never had a group bath before." A mischievous smile followed by a giggle escaped from the pink-haired girl's lips. "Why don't we 'introduce' her to a 'proper camp girl's life'~?" she suggested.

Back in the boys' bathroom – Disco Bear managed to pull a smile as he watched the scene unfold in the girls' bathroom. "Oh yeah…" he purred. "What?" Splendont demanded, "What could be so interesting that –"

His blood-red eyes widened as the afro-wearing teen managed to shift his position; finished his shower quickly and bolted out of the bathroom the moment he glimpsed some bare girl's skin. 'Heh, seems he couldn't handle a little –' Disco Bear thought, cutting himself off as he continued to watch.

"Whoa! Wait! Let go of me!" Moonlight pleaded as she struggled in Giggles' and Petunia's arms; involuntarily shrieked as her clothes were pulled off faster than she could prevent it. "Maybe this isn't a good idea," Flaky suggested, but she soon found herself giggling along with the blue-and-pink pair as the part-albino quickly covered her breasts and curled up in a corner. "Come on, it's not that bad…" said Lammy, "I mean, we're all the same gender." Moonlight agreed hesitantly and stood, still blushing madly.

Disco Bear was blushing and panting excitedly as the scenario rolled on, making the rest of the boys (namely Flippy, Splendid, Mime, Cuddles and Handy) suspicious. "Okay…Mime?" Flippy asked, "Are you part of this?" Mime shook his head. "Then move away," the teen soldier requested. Mime shook his head again, nervousness starting to show. "Why not?" Flippy demanded. Mime – still keeping Disco Bear plastered to the window – pretended to study the floor; looked back to Flippy and shrugged.

The teen soldier heaved a heavy sigh and pulled the afro-wearing teen away from the window…and then froze, his eyes wide as saucers and his mouth gaping a bit. "Flippy?" Splendid asked as he walked over, "Are you o…shit…" The blue hero stood behind him, one hand over his mouth as he tried not to make any sound. Cuddles and Handy yelped together as they witnessed the same scene.

From their angle, they could clearly see into the girls' bathroom window. And from that same angle, they clearly noticed all five female campers, stark naked, their explicit areas barely hidden by a layer of bubbly soap lather.

Disco Bear whimpered and inched backwards as five sets of angry eyes (Mime knew he wasn't to be blamed for being an 'associate' in whatever reason) glared daggers at him. "I was planning to look away before you guys knew…" he muttered, quaking fearfully as they surrounded him. "Could you let me off this time? I promise I won't do that again," he pleaded, sweating profusely.

"That's exactly what you said every year…" Handy growled. Flippy – being the angriest of the group – allowed his alter-ego to take over as he cracked his knuckles. "We'll 'let you off' alright…" the golden-eyed teen snarled, "After we give you a 'knuckle sandwich'."

"No…no, wait! No! NO! AAH!"

'Huh?' the girls wondered as random shouts, painful cries and repetitive pleas of "Stop! Let me go! Please!" echoed in the once-peaceful atmosphere. Lammy was the first to turn to the commotion and gasped as her eyes locked onto the boys' bathroom window; shrieked, covered her eyes and looked away with a reddened face.

Hearing her, all boys stopped in mid-punch and turned to the window; their eyes widened as they caught all the girls staring back at them. Both batches yelled startled cries as they finally pulled the blinds shut.

As soon as they're done showering and are fully dressed, both groups headed out of the cabin with cold glares and clenched fists. Moonlight nearly flinched the moment she realized Flipqy was standing before her, but stood her ground even as Flippy managed to resurface. "What the fuck were you staring at? It's not our fault your blinds were wide open! Shut up, it was getting really steamy in the bathroom anyway!" they argued, seemingly synchronized.

"What's going on here?" Pop demanded while comforting a wailing Cub; handed his son a lollipop and sighing in relief as the toddler calmed down. Lumpy and Mole walked up to the groups and calmed them down as they were separated; quietly held a discussion of each side of the incident. The rest of the boys in the cabin eavesdropped what they could pick up, with the exception of three of them – Splendont was still shaken after what he saw; Lifty and Shifty couldn't decide whether to laugh at or leave him alone. Disco Bear had already fainted alone in the bathroom, being nothing but a naked 'dead weight' covered in multiple bruises and cuts.

After a few minutes, the counselors explained to the camp director that it was all just a 'misunderstanding' and it was started by a certain orange afro camper. Pop then studied the involved teenagers and noticed while some had completely calmed down, a few were still quite agitated. "Looks like Disco Bear stepped over the line this time," the tan-haired man noted, "You know what this means…"

Everyone besides the newcomers began chuckling/giggling mischievously. "Stay up tonight after 'Lights Out'," Pop ordered, creepy tone etched into his voice, "We'll be performing the 'Claws & Nails' ritual…"

[To all those who read this far – I hope you enjoyed this longer chapter. Took me a while since I got a lot on my hands lately.]