Val Vella- District Two male (18)

I was deep into a conversation with Kendall about why we should definitely all gang up on Josie when we heard the sound of a vehicle in the woods. We all gathered around as a golf cart puttered into the camp with Isabella in the driver's seat.

Oh, what's this? Isabella never comes into camp before tribal council. Which we would know, since we've been at every tribal council.

"Hey, Huldra," Isabella said as she climbed out of the golf cart. "How's it going?"

"Bad," Trydan said.

Isabella made finger guns at him. "Well, do I I have some good news for you! Kind of also bad news, though."

Oh no. It came to me in a flash. Isabella was here before tribal council, telling us something she couldn't tell us at tribal council. The only thing she couldn't say at tribal council was that there was no tribal council. The only reason for that would be that someone on Ellekoner was sent home for some reason, and of course my first thought was Octavia. Had she gotten caught cheating? It wasn't like her to get caught but it was absolutely like her to cheat. Or from the way Isabella had specified bad news, that implied someone had gotten sick or hurt. Perhaps someone like Isabella who wasn't used to unprepared food?

"Is everyone here?" Isabella asked, looking around our camp. She did a quick head count and went on.

"Unfortunately, Trayne has fallen ill and can't continue in the game," Isabella said. As soon as "Trayne" left her mouth I checked out a little. Sorry to Trayne and all, but he wasn't Octavia.

"There's no need to worry about him or about yourselves," Isabella continued, holding up a hand. "It was an ruptured appendix and it was caught well before it became critical. He's in a state-of-the-art hospital already and he'll be home in two days. He just can't continue because needs more sterility for his wound than we can provide in this environment. Any questions? I'm sure this is upsetting."

After a moment of silence, Leo piped up. "Tell him we hope he feels better soon, please."

Isabella smiled. "I think I can do that. Anyway, with Trayne's departure, there will be no tribal council tonight. That's the good part."

Thanks, Trayne, I thought. You're a bro. Around me there were scattered cheers, quickly tamped down by Tributes who were in fact very happy but felt rude admitting to it,

"Yes!" Kendall indulged himself. "We win!"

"By default," Yarrow grumped.

"A win is a win!" Kendall would not be deterred.

Josie shrugged in agreement. "It's the best we have."

Yay Huldra, I mentally cheered us. Number one at not getting appendicitis.

Alara Banks- District Four female (17)

We were quieter than usual as we trekked to the challenge clearing. It just really sucked that Trayne had to go home like that. He'd been having a great time and he was a fun guy to have around. Some of us had made tepid attempts to spur us to "win this for him" but it didn't take off. We wanted to win, sure, so we wouldn't go home too, but we knew the only thing that Trayne wanted was to be here with us.

The lack of a curtain in front of the challenge area indicated we wouldn't be blindfolded, which was nice.

"Good morning, contestants," Isabella said. "As you're aware, there was no tribal council last night. Trayne suffered a health issue and was forced to leave the game. I'll take the idol back and we can continue."

Virgo handed over the carved wooden woman about the size of my forearm. We guessed she was supposed to be Freya but we'd nicknamed her Wood Isabella. I felt a tiny bit protective of her, like if Huldra won they might not know her name and would call her something else.

The obstacle course was gone from the clearing and in its place was what looked like a wrestling ring. On either side there was a small table with nothing on it but what looked like a cake platter and a smaller version of Wood Isabella.

"Today's challenge will test your agility and coordination," Isabella said. "Members from each tribe will be paired off and will enter the ring. Each will take their idol and place it atop their handheld platform." As she spoke, two of the film crew demonstrated, holding the platter-looking thing by its slender neck with its wide base upwards. "When the round begins, each contestant will attempt to knock their opponents' idol to the ground. First to do so wins a point for their tribe. You cannot touch your own idol to steady it, so be careful. First tribe to score six points wins immunity and reward. Ready to hear about your reward?'

We gave Isabella the cheers she must have needed for a sound bite or else she wouldn't have asked for them.

"The winning tribe wins the right to raid their opponents' camp," Isabella said. There was a chorus of groans from Huldra. She looked at them. "Don't worry, the rice is off-limits."

"They don't even have anything," Enzo blurted. Kendall put his hands on his hips and gave him a mean look.

"Worth playing for?" Isabella soldiered on.

"Yes!" Huldra yelled.

"I guess," a few Ellekoners managed.

"Who's sitting out for Ellekoner?" Isabella asked.

"I got it." Persi raised a finger and took a seat on the bench. Too undignified, perhaps? Or else she just thought someone had to do it and none of us seemed particularly bad at this challenge.

"Alright. Let's get this challenge started."

Robbie Emmers- District Nine male (18)

This didn't quite seem fair. I was like a foot taller than Birdie. My arm had to be six inches longer. Nonetheless, we circled for a bit before either of us made a move. I'd feel like a total moron if I had every advantage and still lost. Finally I decided to give it a shot. I stuck my arm out. Birdie put hers out to block me. My arm shoved right past hers and hit her idol.

"That's Ellekoner at one, Huldra with zero!"

Trydan Briod- District Five male (17)

I'd hoped I wouldn't be in the first few matches. I wanted to watch and see what I could learn. At least Rowena was a lot shorter than me. Then again, maybe I'd have to bend over to reach her and it would put me off-balance.

As soon as the round started, Rowena went for it. She lunged forward and swatted at my idol. I pulled back and her momentum carried her forward. She pulled herself up before she fell but the correction was so quick and reflexive she forgot to account for her idol. Her arm windmilled a little too much and her idol toppled off.

"That's one for Huldra, making the tribes even!"

Taylor Treadle- District Eight female (16)

Why did it have to be Cactus? He creeped me out. He was way bigger than me and just had this scary energy that if someone beat him he'd eat their face.

Cactus made a careful and calculated strike as soon as the round started. Nope nope nope nope, I thought, turning around entirely. Can't get me if I'm between you and my idol.

Cactus stepped sideways to flank me. Oh you're gonna try to go around me? I'm gonna smack into you real hard! I slammed my shoulder sideways. It bumped into Cactus, knocking him a step to the side. He turned to give me a glare. In the split second between when he looked at me and when he corrected his idol, it fell off.

"That's two for Huldra, one for Ellekoner!"

Kallik- District Two female (18)

I got this. I got this.

I had no idea what the strategy for something like this was. Alara and I circled for an embarrassing amount of time before either of us tried anything.

Alara reached out and slapped at my idol. I slapped back at her hand. Like two one-armed penguins we slapped at each other. The world's stupidest game of patty-cake ended when Alara's slipped her hand past mine and slapped my idol."

That's two for Ellekoner, tying us again!"

Virgo Charleston- District Ten female (18)

Alara and Kallik's slapfight had left a patch of dirt just a little torn up. As Shep and I circled to size each other up, I drifted toward it, herding Shep to drift away from me and toward it as well. As he reached the torn-up bit of dirt I made a small lunge. It wasn't enough to get near Shep's idol but it was enough that he took a step back. His foot came down in the divot left by Kallik, making him stumble. I lunged again, this time going all the way, and with Shep still trying to recover his balance, it was just enough,

"That's three for Ellekoner and two for Huldra!"

Amberlynn Hyde- District Nine female (15)

Isabella called the start of the round. Kendall launched his arm up, catapulting his idol into the air. I knew it was coming. Kendall leaped forward at me, his rapidly increasing form something like that of a train.

From underneath Kendall I looked up at the sky. Kendall picked himself up off me, careful not to step on me. He looked down at me with concern and a little regret as I picked myself up off the ground, relieved to not feel any sore spots or dizziness. From beside the court, my tribemates were objecting.

"I didn't say not to tackle your opponents, so this one's on me," Isabella said from her perch. "From now on, no tackling your opponents. That's three for Huldra, tying us once again."

Yarrow Venus- District Three female (17)

Shoot shoot shoot.

Octavia's hand slid up my blocking arm and shoved into my statue. In a desperate move, I tossed my arm up. The idol flew into the air as I tried to position myself under it. Pushing Octavia away with one hand, I held the platform under the falling idol. It hit the platform and started rolling to one side and then the other as I tilted the platform crazily to try to slow it. Miraculously it slowed to a stop.

Did I pull that off? I thought incredulously as my tribemates cheered.

Octavia swatted it right back off.

Shoot.

"That's four for Ellekoner and three for Huldra!"

Enzo Charmont- District Twelve male (18)

Leo had a new think coming if he thought he could beat me. I had some sweet moves and I was going to bust them all out.

I darted forward at Leo. He yanked his platform back so quickly his idol toppled right off.

That wasn't very fun.

"That's five for Ellekoner, three for Huldra!"

Lana Mason- District Six female (17)

"If Ellekoner wins this one, they have won the challenge!"

No pressure. I really was not the one I would want to pin our tribe's hopes on. And against Val? Might as well just give them the point.

Val shot out his hand at my idol. Well, might as well. I swatted an arm at his. Both of us hit the other's idol. They both toppled off their platforms. They hit midair, the angle knocking mine slightly upward. They both hit the ground, mine just an instant slower.

"Yeah! Lana!" my tribe burst into cheers. I didn't think I'd ever had people cheer for me before. Even if I went home next week, that was something I'd carry with me.

"Ellekoner wins immunity and reward!"

I have two more inactive Tributes to clear out, so this one and then one more. Then I think we'll be ready for the real votes. In the meantime, enjoy Huldra getting shafted again, since soon I'll have run through the inactive people on their tribe (since I have two, that's a max of one more after this) and will have to let them win (and I did promise I'd make it up to them for being the butt monkey so long lol). Don't worry about voting yet, but SOON!

Idol clue: C-H