Chapter 8: New Friends
9:42 am
"Attention campers… challenge time!" Chris' voice said through the speaker. "Keep heading east until you see two tall, medieval-styled towers. You can't miss them!"
The Panthers and Orangutans walked in their respective teams, making their way east. Some were looking eagerly for the towers, others were striking conversations with their new teammates. Caleb, who remembered his conversation with MK a few hours prior, reluctantly glared at Bowie who was leading his team with Raj at the front.
"Ugh, Caleb keeps glaring at me. It's like he's some horrible dragon breathing roid-rage fire down my neck," Bowie fanned himself vigorously. He was very confused. Hadn't they just gotten along with each other yesterday playing beach volleyball? Bowie thought that had been enough to clear the air between them and start fresh. Clearly, that was not the case… Perhaps he had just had a rough sleep…
Bowie confessional: OK… so maybe Julia just struck a thorn on my side… Ugh, what a way to start the season am I right? Wonder how I'm gonna get out of this one… Maybe I should get rid of Caleb first again so that I don't end up being a pile of bones? *blinks*
Raj patted Bowie's back affectionately. "Don't worry Bowie. He can try but I won't let him. DEFENSE! DEFENSE! DEFENSE!" he cheered. Bowie chuckled. To his great surprise, Emma popped up next to them and invited herself to their conversation.
"I mean, you did get him eliminated first last time," she pointed out fairly. "I think he's still holding a slight grudge."
Bowie grunted. This was very much true.
Emma coughed nervously. "Hey…by the way, I never got a chance to thank you for picking me to be on your team. Meant a lot because I honestly thought I was going to be picked last," Emma said in a low voice. She stared anxiously at the ground while she said this, avoiding Bowie's eye.
Though Emma technically did not count this as an apology, she hoped to be on speaking terms with Bowie again though she wasn't expecting much. Emma had had an entire year to reflect on her poor decision to end her friendship with Bowie, a friend whom she had missed very much. Emma desperately wanted him back in her life. But did she deserve him?
Bowie looked at Emma quizzically. Glad to have a chance to talk with her again, he replied sincerely. "I seriously meant it. You always play a lot better without Chase… Uh, I hope you realize this time we have to beat him at team challenges? You can focus right?" he reaffirmed, staring hardly at Emma. Bowie wanted Emma to bring her A-game for her own sake.
"Oh yeah. Yeah…" Emma nodded, laughing nervously.
Emma confessional: Wow, still can't believe Bowie chose me out of all people after what happened last season… Uhhh, guess it's time to bury the hatchet and move on right? *chuckles*
Damien punched his hand enthusiastically as he walked alongside Priya. "What do you think today's challenge is gonna be? Do they repeat challenges? Cuz if they do… ho-ho! I'M READY!"
Priya smiled at the energetic Damien. This was certainly a new Damien from last year. He was actually looking forward to a challenge. She gave her expertise answer. "Well in general they don't. I guess they like to repeat obstacle courses and gross eating challenges but that's pretty much it. I doubt we'll get those again though. At this point, they're overused..."
Damien sighed in defeat. Of course. Of course they weren't going to repeat eating challenges, one of the ones he had prepared for most.
"Aw man for real? I've been testing my pain tolerance and ate some real nasty stank foods as preparation but if those don't even come up…" he sighed into space.
"What did you eat?" Priya giggled, staring at Damien.
"Uh, you don't wanna know…" Damien shook his head laughing.
"No, tell me! I won't laugh, I promise." Priya failed to hide another giggle.
"Let's see…," Damien thought out loud, recalling every horrible thing he had eaten between seasons. "Rotten fish intestines, unsalted monkey brains, spicy mud and jellyfish pudding, maggot macarons, stinky hippo feet…" he recited. Stinky hippo feet. That had been the worst one of all for it was the only thing in Damien's life that had caused him to immediately throw up from a smell alone. No chemical had ever done that to him.
"Wow, good job!" Priya congratulated him. And she really meant it. She admired Damien for living like her for an entire year because it was not easy by any means. "Even if there isn't an eating challenge, a strong stomach should still come in handy. But being good at challenges isn't enough. To get far, you're going to need to make friends. What do you say to us sticking together?"
Damien whistled in appreciation. "Like chips and salsa, butter and bagels, cookies and cream, we should be a good match!" He shook hands with Priya. The second formal alliance of the season had been formed.
"Sweet!" Priya said happily. She was ecstatic at how well her and Damien seemed to be meshing. "Oh by the way, it's cookiesncream, like one word. I'm just saying because you made it sound like three separate words…"
"Nuh-uh. That's just false," Damien grinned.
Priya laughed into the sky. "Yes it is! I swear!" she tugged Damien's arm.
Damien confessional: I been working my butt off all year, torturing myself for this rematch and NOW all of a sudden they might not wanna do eating challenges? Well, that's just one challenge I'm probably gonna have to cross off. *takes out paper and crosses it off*
Luckily, I've prepared for the other 2246 possibilities. And luckily I have Priya this time to help me out. She's awesome, I can feel the winner energy radiating from her!
Priya confessional: Now that Millie's on the other team Damien should be the perfect alliance partner! He's prepared, intelligent, likeable, kind of cute too… *realizes she is rambling and shakes her head*
Uhh, but this is a purely friendship-focused alliance. Maybe we can get romantic outside the game, MAYBE. I like his hat. *opens mouth stupidly*
Behind the Orangutans were the Panthers. Much like the Orangutans, many of them seemed to be in scattered groups of two or three.
"Hey guys! WASSSSUP? THE BOYS ARE REUNITED!" Chase said energetically as he wrapped his arms around Ripper and Zee's necks tightly, embracing them like brothers. Chase was extremely grateful to be put on the same team as two of his best friends already. Though he did not like to assume things, Chase already had a feeling he would merge based off the teams alone.
"Nobody messes with us!" Ripper karate-chopped the air.
"HA-ZAAA!" Zee chortled as he took a sip from a… pineapple soda?!
"Dude! Did you betray Orange Sunshine?" Ripper asked accusingly, staring at the pineapple soda in Zee's hand.
Zee raised an eyebrow.
"Oh… this?" he pointed to his soda can. "NAH! Of course nothing can replace Orange Sunshine as the best flavour! I'm just trying things out with my new sponsorship!"
Ripper and Chase stared at Zee in surprise. All year, he hadn't ever mentioned a sponsorship!
Zee confessional: Wanna see something cool? *opens briefcase and reveals neatly stashed sodas* Civil Suit Soda are paying me to be an influencer. It's not a million bucks but… it's better than a fistful of bananas. Which happens to be just one of the delicious flavours *pulls out a can*
*takes a sip and stares at it revolted* Wow… that's gross, I mean… greaaaat! *gives a sarcastic thumbs-up*
"Sucks Emma couldn't be on our team though. Oh well, we're just going to have to destroy her," Chase said viciously. He broke off and frowned as he recalled Julia being picked as team captain yesterday.
"Hey, how come the three of us weren't voted as most popular? We're funny, athletic, totally hot. I don't get it… There's even a name going around for us. You know what people are calling us? Trout trio! How sick is that?"
Chase had caught up on this name after surfing through MySelfieGram and discovered to his great surprise that it was a trending hashtag. #TroutTrio.
"Wicked… A trio huh? Is that a group of four people or… five people?" Zee counted on his fingers as he took another sip.
"I'm just going to guess that the poll didn't have many ladies participating," Ripper coughed. "Otherwise, we would've won a landslide! But who cares about that stupid popularity contest? It was probably filled with Julia's bots anyways. As if she'd win if real people were voting!"
"Hey Ripper!"
Ripper turned around. His jaw dropped in horror as he stared right at Julia who had just called his name playfully. Ripper knew better though. She was not pleased. How had he already gotten into trouble with their captain?
Ripper confessional: *smacks himself on the head* CRUD! How did I already mess up?! Hopefully she's not too mad…
"AH!" he yelped, jumping back in fright. Julia smiled to herself. Ripper was easily intimidated by her and rightfully so.
"So! I heard everything you said and I just want you to know, you are really feeling gutsy this time aren't you? I like guys with GUTS! Well… not really. I prefer abs. ANYWAYS. I like that you're feeling SO brave, I kind of respect you for it, especially because you know I can send your butt packing any time riiiiiiight?" Julia laughed malignantly.
Ripper whimpered as he looked at Chase and Zee mortified. A few more seconds of silence and Ripper breathed a sigh of relief. Phew. If that's all there was to Julia's tirade, that wasn't so bad –
"NEVER CALL MY FOLLOWERS BOTS AGAIN!"
"AHHH!" Ripper, Zee and Chase all yelped holding each other in fear.
"Thanks!" Julia said sweetly.
Chase confessional: You hear that? Julia likes guys with abs aka this guy! *pulls up shirt and flexes* And I still can't believe I wasn't voted the most popular guy. There's even a fan out there who's into my pants! I'm serious. How did I not win?
Julia confessional: Wow, I am really feeling this team! And guess what? I don't have anything to worry about. Bowie has all of my enemies – Emma, Raj, MK, Priya. There's no one I fear on my team either. So far they're all willing to listen to me so power struggle shouldn't be an issue. Wayne might try to take over sometimes but I'll just remind him who's in charge.
*plays with fingernails* What I really want this time is an alliance instead of relying on immunities. My plan is to take two people with me to the final three. I just need two desperate people willing to do everything I say. And I think I know exactly who I'm choosing.
Julia narrowed her eyes as she watched her team and the Orangutans walking ahead. Julia quickly seized Nichelle and Axel's arms and pulled them both off to the side away from everyone else.
"Hey! What gives?" Nichelle yelped confused, looking at the others who were disappearing from view.
Julia sat herself on a stump and motioned for Axel and Nichelle to do the same. Which they did. Julia looked around one more time for any eavesdroppers before she spoke.
"Alright girls listen up. Let's take full control of this team right now. Ripper, Zee and Chase are obviously bonding so we need to stick together. Agree?" she looked around at them eagerly.
Julia who was used to getting her way immediately expected for these two to fall to their knees and say, 'YES!' enthusiastically. Instead, she was met with surprising backlash.
"Why would you ever put those three together? They got along so well last season…" Nichelle muttered.
Julia blinked. Was Nichelle seriously questioning her decisions? Julia took a deep breath though behind her back she had just squeezed her fist in anger. "It wasn't intentional. It just happened to work out like that. I needed Ripper's brute strength, Chase's athleticism and I had to choose Zee to stick it in Bowie's face," she fake-smiled.
OMG just say yes Julia thought furiously.
Unfortunately for her, Nichelle was not making things easy and she continued to pester with annoying questions. "But still… that's three of them and three of us... We need someone else. You think you can get Wayne to join us too?"
Indeed, Nichelle who had been embarrassed for being a flop last year, vowed to redeem herself this season. She needed to merge. She had had a very strong start by winning the first challenge for her team. And she wanted her success to continue. But Nichelle also knew she could not just rely on challenges. She needed allies and she would prefer it if they grabbed a majority right away.
Julia gave a little yawn. "I'll work on Wayne but it's going to be hard if he gets along better with the other guys," she drawled.
"How about Millie?" Nichelle continued, clearly failing to see Julia getting visibly angrier.
Julia sighed as she dug her fingernails into her stump. "Not interested in Millie," she said simply.
Finally Axel spoke. "Why not? She made it further than you last time." Axel smirked.
Blood was pounding in Julia's ears. Had she heard that correctly? Was Axel seriously throwing shade when she had finished 15th last season?
Julia took a deep breath and raised her hands innocently. "Ugh, don't remind me. Fine… you know what? If I can't get Wayne to join us, maybe I'll consider Millie. Happy?"
"Why are you doing this?" Axel raised her eyebrows suspiciously. Julia's eye twitched. Julia knew Axel would be difficult to work with but she hadn't expected her to ask questions with this much scrutiny.
Julia bit her lip before choosing her next words carefully. Julia knew her reputation was not the best around here. It was so bad that even the early boots of last season were skeptical of working with her. She needed to present herself as helpful and useful to them in order to win them over.
"Honestly I just feel sooo bad for you two and your pathetic performances last time. For reals, second and third eliminated is just…yikes. #robbedqueens," Julia sighed sympathetically.
Axel and Nichelle stared down at the ground shamefully. Julia smiled as she continued. Now that she had reminded them of last season, it was time to lend a helping hand… and she was going to do it assertively, without hesitation.
"Now… I made it pretty far so I'm offering to help and protect you this time around. Do you accept?" Julia stared hardly at both of them. Julia's heart pounded. She had chosen her words very deliberately. If they did not say yes, she would be in danger…
For a minute, Julia stared silently at Axel and Nichelle. The only sound that could be heard was the chirping of some birds or the rustling of leaves as squirrels frolicked around. But then –
"Alright," Axel sighed resignedly. What other choice did she have?
"Sounds good to me," Nichelle added, smiling at Julia.
Julia clapped her hands excitedly. "GREAT! Final three, here we come!" she stood up from her stump and extended her hands for Axel and Nichelle to grab. They had to rejoin the main group before anybody noticed. Julia already had a bathroom excuse in her mind.
Axel confessional: *crosses arms and snorts* Do I like the thought of Julia bossing me around? No. Do I have to listen to her so that I don't get kicked early again? *sighs in defeat* Probably.
Nichelle confessional: Look… I might not fully trust Julia but… hanging out with her might not be so bad… I will of course be watching out for any betrayals! *assumes Harold-style Kung Fu stance*
Julia, Axel and Nichelle rejoined their group who seemed to have noticed nothing as they continued walking. Eventually, Bowie and the Orangutans came to a stop. The Panthers did the same. Nichelle gasped.
Above were two identical, 14th-century styled towers covered with dark orange-brown bricks and turrets. Both teams' flags were attached to the very top and blew softly in the morning wind.
They all gaped at the large structure, too perplexed to speak, wondering what they were going to have to do today.
Suddenly, the door in the Panthers' tower swung open and out popped the large head of Chef Hatchet.
"Panthers, come on in and climb the stairs until you reach the top. Orangutans, you do the same. I'm going to open the door to your tower right now…"
As the Panthers entered their tower single file, Chef waddled over to the Orangutans' tower and inserted a brass key into the lock which opened it promptly.
CHINK!
"After you m'lady," Damien gestured for Priya to enter their tower first. She giggled and happily accepted. One by one, the Orangutans followed her. As soon as MK entered the tower, they heard a loud BANG!
Everybody jumped. Chef had just slammed the door in their faces and judging from what they could hear outside, he was locking them in!
Raj immediately went over and tugged on the door with all his might but it was no use. They were trapped.
"He just locked us up!" Raj whimpered, looking up fearfully. He had heard stories of large dragons roaming castles just like these but hopefully that was just a Disney fairy tale…
"I guess there's only one way to go," Bowie put a hand to his forehead, squinted and looked up at the large spiralling staircase. He took the first step and began climbing, the others right behind him.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Thanks for reading Chapter 8! The drama is about to pick up from here.
Now that you've gotten your first look at some alliances, has your opinion on the teams changed?