Last time on Total Drama Island…
A talent contest brought out both the worst and the best in our campers—and it was awesome! The Killer Bass went looking for silver but struck gold instead when Bridgette's clumsiness smashed Courtney's violin. Luckily, some artistic flair from Lincoln helped cinch a surprise victory for the Bass. Gwen finally stood up to Heather, which of course only made Heather more determined to make Gwen's life miserable. In typical Heather fashion, she stole Gwen's diary and read it aloud to the entire viewing world, exposing that Gwen has a secret crush on someone at camp.
Heather then tried to pull the same move on Ronnie Anne—big mistake. She ended up as a human training dummy instead. No joke, if Ronnie Anne goes pro, the girl's gonna be brutal. Unfortunately, Heather managed to save her butt once again by manipulating most of the team into voting off Justin McGorgeousness.
Who'll be the next camper to take the long walk off this crappy dock? Find out tonight in the most dramatic marshmallow ceremony ever! Right here on Total. Drama. Island!
⸻
Usually at this hour, the edges of Camp Wawanakwa were eerily still. The forest floor was quiet, save for the occasional breeze rustling through the trees. Rarely would you see any campers out here, let alone signs of wildlife this deep into camp territory. But today, two familiar teens had claimed the clearing—relaxing, laughing, and sparring in their own way.
"Okay, how about this?"
Ronnie Anne shifted into a confident fighting stance, planting her feet firmly in the dirt. Lincoln sat perched on a nearby stump, chin resting in his palm, studying her posture with a thoughtful look.
"Not really feelin' it, ya know," he said with a shrug.
Ronnie Anne rolled her eyes at her best friend's indecisiveness.
"Okay, how about this?" she offered again.
This time, she extended one hand forward with her palm outstretched, the other tucked tightly against her chest. She slid one foot out front, striking a more stylized pose.
"Don't think. Feel!" she quoted dramatically.
Lincoln tilted his head, clearly confused.
"…I don't get it."
Ronnie Anne stared at him in disbelief.
"Enter the Dragon, dude! We watched it together!!"
Lincoln scratched his head, trying to dig up the memory.
"…Ooohhh yyyeeeaahhh…"
Ronnie Anne crossed her arms and frowned, clearly unimpressed.
"You're completely blanking on it, aren't you."
"Yeah."
Lincoln lowered his head in mock shame before they both broke into laughter.
"Ahaha…HAHAHAHA!!!"
Their laughter echoed through the trees. Lincoln glanced at her, and the way her face lit up mid-laugh gave him just enough inspiration to finish the sketch he'd been working on.
"How's it all coming?" Ronnie Anne asked, plopping down beside him and peeking over his shoulder at the drawings.
"They're not the greatest but… what do you think?"
Ronnie Anne leaned in, eyes widening as she examined the pages more closely.
"Dude, if this isn't good in your eyes, I can't imagine what perfect is. These are like… photos. They're so perfect."
Lincoln rubbed the back of his head, bashful at the compliment. But he noticed her expression shift slightly as she lingered on one of the drawings.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Ronnie Anne blinked and stood up quickly, placing her hands on her hips.
"Oh, the drawings are great, Lincoln. It's just…"
She hesitated, then sighed.
"I just wish I didn't have this big butt. I've tried to get rid of it—only made it worse."
Lincoln's face flushed a deep red as he suddenly realized she wasn't criticizing his art—she was criticizing herself. Over the years, Ronnie Anne had tried everything: diets, workouts, even special treatments to slim down her thick legs and hips. But every attempt only seemed to make her more bottom-heavy. She hated it.
"Oh… I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking—it was—"
Ronnie Anne quickly held up her hands to stop him.
"No, dude. You don't need to apologize for anything. I just hate this butt, ya know?"
Lincoln, unfortunately, found himself glancing at the very body part in question, his face burning.
"Lincoln… you good?" she asked, raising a brow.
Lincoln whipped his head away, flustered. But Ronnie Anne wasn't about to let the moment pass. A mischievous smirk slowly crept across her face.
"Do you think my butt is too big, Linc?" she teased.
Lincoln's face practically exploded with color.
"NO. NO. NO, it doesn't. It looks fine."
"Fine~? You say, so you think~?"
"NO, WAIT, I MEAN—"
He tripped over his words, hands flailing as he tried to explain himself, but Ronnie Anne burst out laughing before he could recover.
"HAHAHAHA! Dude, your face is too priceless! Hahaha!!!"
She kept laughing, nearly doubling over, while Lincoln crossed his arms in mock frustration—but eventually gave in with a grin. This was his best friend, after all. He wouldn't trade her for anything in the world.
Sadly, their peaceful moment was short-lived. The loudspeakers buzzed to life with an all-too-familiar voice.
"ALL CAMPERS TO THE FIREPIT. TIME FOR TODAY'S CHALLENGE!!"
Both teens groaned, the joy of the morning draining from their faces.
"Well, guess it's time to go back to the slaughterhouse," Ronnie Anne muttered, pushing herself up and dusting off her pants.
Lincoln watched her go, his gaze lingering on her backside for just a second too long… until—
[SMACK]
He slapped himself across the face to snap out of it.
"I really need a vacation," he muttered, heading off to the firepit with a blush still lingering on his cheeks.
⸻
The campers were already gathered at the firepit, groggy and irritated by the unusually early wake-up call. Unlike most days, there was no drama lingering from the previous elimination—just a collective sense of dread about whatever Chris had planned next.
"Campers!" Chris called out, beaming as he faced the group. "Today's challenge will test your outdoor survival skills. I'm not gonna lie to you—some of you may not come back alive."
Gasps rang out from several campers, eyes wide with panic, but Chris only laughed.
"Just joking! Ha-ha. All you have to do is spend one night in the woods. Everything you need is at your team's campsite somewhere out in the forest. You just have to find it. Oh—and watch out for bears. We lost a couple of interns in pre-production."
That last part wasn't a joke.
Several campers stiffened in fear, exchanging worried glances.
Well… most of them.
—————-
[Lincoln - CONFESSIONAL ]
"Now this challenge I've been waiting for. I'm a master of wilderness survival and camping, so this is right up my alley."
Lincoln pumped his fist with enthusiasm, unable to hide his excitement for what was clearly his dream challenge.
⸻
Back at the firepit, Chris stood tall with his usual smug expression.
"First team back for breakfast wins… invincibility!"
Before anyone could react, Chris suddenly blew an air horn, the deafening blast forcing campers to clutch their ears in pain.
"Well, off you go!" he said cheerfully, already walking off to relax while the contestants scrambled to recover from the auditory assault.
Ronnie Anne and Leshawna staggered slightly, trying to get their hearing back.
"That guy is really pissing me off," Ronnie Anne muttered, rubbing the side of her head.
"Did he say there are bears up in here?" Leshawna asked, blinking as she tried to reorient herself.
Just then, Owen strolled up to the girls, his usual grin plastered on his face, eager to tell a story.
"You know, I had a little encounter with a bear once," he said casually.
Ronnie Anne raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You dealt with a bear?"
"Oh yeah," Owen said, puffing up his chest. "Let's just say his head looks real nice up on my mantle."
The Gophers stared at Owen, expressions ranging from disbelief to outright concern. All except one.
"Ooh! This one time, I saw a bear eating our garbage!" Izzy cut in, excitedly waving her arms. "He had old spaghetti noodles hanging from his big, huge teeth! It looked like blood and guts!"
She motioned wildly, trying to mimic the grotesque image, her eyes wide with manic energy. Poor Lindsay's face turned a shade of green at the mental picture.
"It was so gross. And we thought he was eating the neighbor's cat, Simba, but it turns out he was just lost for a week. Uh, you didn't eat spaghetti, did you?"
Lindsay silently shook her head, clearly on the verge of hurling.
"Good, let's go!"
Izzy sprinted off into the woods, eager to begin camping, while Lindsay rushed to a nearby bush to empty her stomach.
Ronnie Anne quickly followed and knelt beside her, gently holding the blonde's hair back as she vomited.
"I got you. Just let it out, kid."
"…hmmph… thanks, Ronnie…"
Leshawna and Beth walked up a moment later, visibly concerned.
"That Izzy girl is loco," Ronnie Anne muttered to the group, still wide-eyed from the redhead's unfiltered enthusiasm.
"No kidding," Leshawna replied.
"Seriously," Beth added.
Lindsay continued to retch, but her opinion of Izzy was crystal clear.
⸻
Both teams had been making their way through the woods for a while. The Screaming Gophers were ahead of schedule, trekking steadily toward their designated campsite.
Trent caught sight of Gwen walking alone and hurried to catch up with her.
"Hey, Gwen, wait up! Can I walk with you?"
"No."
Gwen didn't even look at him. She kept her head down and sped up, clearly avoiding him.
"Hey, if this is about that whole diary thing…"
But Gwen didn't respond. She simply walked faster, leaving Trent behind, deflated and frustrated.
Ronnie Anne and Leshawna caught up to him, offering support.
"Don't worry, Trent," Ronnie Anne said gently. "Gwen isn't angry… she's just embarrassed."
"I know, Ronnie… it's just—I thought we were getting closer, ya know?"
Leshawna gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Honey, you did nothing wrong… that honor goes to that witch."
All three of them turned and glared at Heather, who was off to the side scratching herself furiously—thanks to the red ants someone had "accidentally" dumped in her bed the night before.
"Ugh! She is so the next one to leave," Heather muttered bitterly, glaring in Gwen's direction.
Trent overheard and frowned. "Who?"
"Who do you think? Gwen!" Heather snapped. "She dumped Harold's red ant farm into my bed!"
Trent rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but you did read her diary to the entire world."
Heather spun around to face him, her expression dark and menacing enough to make half the team step back.
"So?!"
She clearly didn't regret a thing—except getting payback.
"SO! You got what you deserved, you bruja!!"
Heather's face twisted with rage at the Hispanic girl who didn't back down from heather's glare.
"Stop calling me that! And you're going down next, grande-butt! You attacked me and humiliated me on TV! YOU MADE ME LOOK BAD!!"
Heather stormed off, fuming and red in the face.
"You don't need my help with that, you monstruo con cara de cerdo y sin tetas," Ronnie Anne muttered coldly.
Leshawna raised a brow and glanced at her. "What did you just call that brat?"
Ronnie Anne leaned in and whispered the meaning into Leshawna's ear. After a beat, Leshawna burst out laughing.
The two girls exchanged a high five, enjoying the bond that was quickly forming between them.
⸻
[Leshawna - CONFESSIONAL]
"Ronnie Anne is one of the few people here I like and respect. Girl looks fire, tough as nails, can kick butt, and she's the only other one whose bootay is as luscious and apple-like as mine~"
Leshawna gave a proud shake of her hips toward the camera before sitting back down, her tone shifting to something more sincere.
"…It's just—I've wanted to ask her about the whole 'Christina' thing. I've talked to Courtney in between challenges… and I know something serious happened. I know it's not my place, but Ronnie's my girl. I want to help if I can. We're friends—and we're in an alliance."
⸻
Meanwhile, the Killer Bass were trekking through the woods when Katie and Sadie stopped abruptly near a patch of bushes.
"Sadie, look. Blueberries!"
"Ohhh, I love, love, love blueberries!"
"Oh my gosh! Me too!"
⸻
[Katie & Sadie - CONFESSIONAL ]
"Sadie and I are BFFFLs!"
"Best female friends for life!"
"We even got the chickenpox together!"
"Oh my gosh, that was so fun."
"It was so fun to have someone to scratch all your little scabs!"
"I know, right?"
…
Yeah, I don't know what to make of that either.
⸻
Back on the trail, the rest of the Bass had continued forward. Lincoln, meanwhile, was practically beaming with excitement.
"Dude, are you okay? Your smiling is freaking me out," Duncan said, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Sorry, it's just—I love wilderness survival. I've been obsessed since I was eleven."
Harold overheard and joined in, curious.
"What's the craziest survival story you've got, Lincoln?"
Lincoln rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment.
"When I was eleven, me and my friend Clyde went on this camping trip and got lost. We managed to find our way back, but we had to deal with poison ivy, an angry moose, a swarm of bees, and a bear."
Bridgette's eyes widened. "You dealt with all that when you were eleven?! Jeez, man, how'd you survive?"
"I learned a lot of skills growing up," Lincoln explained. "The bear was the most dangerous. We had to play dead for it to leave."
Courtney scoffed. "That's an urban myth."
Lincoln turned to her with a narrowed gaze. "Courtney, the only bear you've dealt with is one you won from a claw machine."
Courtney's face turned bright red as the rest of the Bass burst into laughter.
"Pretty cool you handled all that back when you were eleven," Harold added. "When I was in Muskrat Boys, we learned a lot of survival techniques too."
Lincoln nodded in approval. "That'll be good. When we get to the campsite, I want to set up a tarp over the tent."
The rest of the Bass looked confused.
"The temperature's dropped. Has anyone else noticed it's like ten degrees cooler than yesterday?"
Some murmured agreement, others just shrugged.
"Oh, I absolutely doubt we'll see any rain tonight. You're just paranoid," Courtney said dismissively.
Lincoln narrowed his eyes, but before he could respond, Bridgette stepped in.
"Regardless, a tarp over the tent would be a smart idea. Better to have it and not need it."
Lincoln smiled, grateful for her backup as the tension faded away.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————
The Screaming Gophers finally arrived at their campsite. Aside from a tent and a few scattered supplies, there wasn't much to work with.
"Uh… ha… ha… There's no food here," Owen said, stating the obvious as he scanned the barren site.
"This is a survival task. Look at the instructions," Ronnie Anne replied, already flipping through the laminated notes Chris had left behind, which listed their barebones requirements.
Izzy, unfazed by the lack of food or shelter, grinned with wild curiosity. "I wonder if there are any bears around today. Wouldn't it be funny if we made some bear sounds and then they came?"
"Ha, that would be so funny," she added, laughing to herself.
"No, it won't," Ronnie Anne muttered darkly, but her warning fell on deaf ears.
Before she could stop him, Owen threw his arms up and roared at the top of his lungs.
"RAHHHHHH!!! I'm a bear!"
Ronnie Anne immediately lunged forward and slapped a hand over Owen's mouth, frantically glancing around the surrounding trees.
"Dude—Owen—love the enthusiasm, but can you cool it? The last thing I want is a real bear to show up."
She slowly removed her hand, giving him an apologetic look.
"Sorry," Owen said, sheepish.
"Would you please shut up?" Heather suddenly snapped, making everyone flinch. "I'm trying to read here! It says we're supposed to find our own food."
She whipped her head around, clearly frustrated.
"I still don't see it."
Ronnie Anne clapped slowly, sarcastically.
"Real keen survival instincts."
Trent chuckled beside her and decided to clarify.
"I think they mean we need to find our food in the woods."
Owen perked up immediately, hand shooting into the air.
"I'll go! I'm good at finding food!"
Without another word, he marched off into the trees with a determined look on his face.
"Well, at least this will be a good week for my diet," Heather muttered under her breath.
Ronnie Anne shot her a disgusted glare.
"You should worry less about your figure and more about your breath—because you got some kind of halitosis that would make a zombie faint."
The Gophers burst into laughter, several campers doubling over at Ronnie Anne's insult.
"I'm gonna go see if I can find anything edible out there. I'll be back later," Ronnie Anne announced, walking off into the woods with confident strides.
Heather glared daggers at her retreating form, then cautiously blew into her palm and sniffed. A second later, she gagged.
⸻
Meanwhile, back in the forest, Katie and Sadie had completely picked the blueberry bush clean, not leaving a single berry behind. You wouldn't even know it had ever been a blueberry bush to begin with.
"Okay, those were so yummy. Can you believe how yummy those were?" Katie said, wiping her hands.
"They were so yummy," Sadie agreed with equal enthusiasm.
The girls looked around… and realized something strange.
"Katie, where's the rest of the team?" Sadie asked, scanning the empty forest.
Katie turned a full circle. "I don't know. They must be nearby."
The two stood up, starting to get nervous.
"Killer Bass, where are you?!" Sadie called out.
"Killer Bass!" Katie echoed.
Then Sadie gasped, her face pale with realization.
"This is just like when we were seven and we lost our moms at the mall."
Katie's face lit up as she remembered. "And you started to cry and the security guards had to, like, page our moms—and they were so mad."
They both giggled at the memory, shaking off their anxiety.
"Oh my gosh, like, take a pill. We're fine," Katie said with a nervous laugh.
But the laughter died quickly.
There were no security guards.
No loudspeakers.
No mall.
No people.
Only endless forest and eerie silence.
"Killer Bass, where are you?!"
Both girls screamed together into the void.
But there was no answer.
———————————————————————
Dusk had fallen over the island, casting a dim orange glow over the Killer Bass's campsite. Despite the fading light, the team was making solid progress: the tent was nearly up, and the tarp was being secured overhead. Harold was diligently handling the tarp while Bridgette and Geoff worked together on assembling the tent poles.
"Wow. You pitch a tent like a guy!" Geoff said, attempting to compliment the girl he liked.
Bridgette blinked at him, a confused expression creeping across her face. Geoff quickly realized how badly his words had come out.
⸻
Geoff – CONFESSIONAL
"'Wow, you pitch a tent like a guy'?!"
Geoff smacked himself in the forehead.
"That was just terrible, man."
⸻
Back at the tent, Geoff scrambled to recover.
"I mean, you're not all girly about gettin' dirty and stuff."
Bridgette's deadpan stare deepened.
"Gee. Thanks."
Before the awkwardness could thicken, Harold finished tying down the tarp.
"Aaaand… done," he announced.
Courtney, arms crossed and brow furrowed, immediately snapped.
"It still wasn't necessary for you to do that, Harold."
"I don't know, Courtney… those clouds kinda give me thunderstorm vibes," Harold replied, glancing skyward.
Courtney followed his gaze and saw a cluster of thick, dark clouds rolling in.
"it's so not gonna rain."
"What's got your panties all twisted?" Duncan called over from the fire pit, where Eva was beginning to strike a flame.
"My panties aren't your concern… and they are not twisted," Courtney replied icily. "I'm just sick of Lincoln taking control of this team."
Harold narrowed his eyes at her.
"He's helped us win—is what you mean. If it weren't for him, we'd be on a five-challenge losing streak."
Courtney glared at the nerd, but Duncan changed the subject before things got uglier.
"What's for dinner, woman? I'm starving."
Courtney's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I hope you don't expect me to dignify that with a response. Besides, our team captain and DJ are handling food."
As if on cue, the gentle giant appeared from the trees.
"Hey guys, look what I found!" DJ called out excitedly.
In his arms, he cradled a small, fluffy rabbit.
He gently stroked the little creature, and the girls of the Bass melted at the cuteness.
"Well, I've never had rabbit stew before, but what the heck? I'm game," Duncan said, grinning wickedly.
DJ recoiled in horror, clutching the rabbit protectively.
"This is my new pet! I'm callin' him Bunny!"
"You couldn't find any food?" Courtney shouted, exasperated.
Bridgette stepped forward, concern on her face.
"Hey DJ, what happened to Linc? Didn't the two of you go looking together?"
DJ nodded. "He said we should split up, said we'd find more that way."
"YO, KILLER BASS—WHO'S READY TO EAT?!"
The booming shout made everyone whip their heads toward the woods. Lincoln strolled into camp like a hero returning from battle. In one hand, he carried a hand-woven basket brimming with blueberries, strawberries, and other wild fruits. Slung over his other shoulder was a rope strung with a dozen freshly caught fish.
Geoff's jaw dropped.
"DUDE! How did you score this?!"
Lincoln casually handed Bridgette the basket and adjusted the fish over his shoulder.
"All living things need water. So I found a nearby river—berries were growing close by, picked the good ones."
"Nice work, Lincoln! Tonight we feast!" Geoff cheered.
Bridgette, Harold, DJ, and Duncan followed Lincoln to the fire that Eva had stoked, already prepping to cook the fish. Lincoln began distributing supplies, clearly in his element.
The only one who didn't join the celebration was Courtney, who stood frozen in place, stunned and visibly disheartened as she watched Lincoln effortlessly take the lead.
"Has anyone seen Tweedledumb and Tweedleidiot?" Duncan suddenly asked, glancing around for the missing duo.
————————————————————————-
The girls in question—Katie and Sadie—were not doing well.
"You don't know where we are, do you?" Sadie snapped, frustration boiling over.
"Yes! Okay, no. It's so not my fault. Have you ever noticed that all trees look the same?" Katie tried to stay calm, but her words only fueled Sadie's growing ire.
"Ooh, I knew I should have known better than to listen to you!"
"What, you don't think I'm smart enough to find them?"
"You're not exactly the best with, like, directions."
Katie's expression soured instantly.
"Yuh-huh, I am!"
"Nuh-uh! Apparently, you're not! 'Cause we're L-O-S-T. Lost!"
Katie stuck her tongue out, blowing a raspberry.
"Pfffffbbbbbttt! Well, at least I know how to drive, you… you have-to-walk girl. Now who's smarter?"
Sadie crossed her arms. "Trip to the beach last year ring a bell?"
Katie gasped. "Oh, I can't believe you're bringing that up. I did have a totally fetch bikini on that day, though. Ha."
Sadie wasn't amused. "You drove my mom's car into a snack shack!"
Katie rolled her eyes. "It was totally in my blind spot! Whatever! If it wasn't for me, you'd be riding the bus to the mall!"
"Well, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't even find your way to the mall!"
"Oh, I know my way to the mall!"
"You lean on me! If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't even be on this show!"
Katie gasped in horror at that comment. She fired back harder.
"You're just saying that because I'm prettier than you are!"
Sadie looked completely stunned.
"I knew you thought that!"
"It's true. Everybody thinks so."
⸻
Katie and Sadie – CONFESSIONAL
"Sadie's like the prettiest girl I know."
"Aww, well you're the prettiest girl I know."
"We are really pretty, aren't we?"
"Don't you love that we can say that to each other and not feel totally conceited?"
"I love that about us!"
"Me too!"
⸻
Back in real time, things were far less adorable.
"That's it! When we get back to camp, we are so splitting up as BFFFLs!"
"Fine!"
"Double fine!"
⸻
Meanwhile, back at the Gophers' camp, things weren't going much better. Neither Owen nor Ronnie Anne had returned with food, and everyone was starving.
"I am so hungry," Heather groaned, clutching her stomach. Izzy was hunched over beside her.
"I think my stomach ate my stomach."
Just then, a new voice called out.
"Yo! Who ordered the pepperoni, extra cheese?!"
A pizza delivery guy walked up casually, holding a steaming box.
"It's for the camera crew! Over here!"
The cameraman waved him over. The campers stared in disbelief.
"No way," Heather muttered.
Before she could snatch the pizza, the bushes rustled—and one of their teammates emerged.
"I am man! I bring fish!" Owen proclaimed proudly, holding up a string of fresh fish.
Heather's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me?"
Trent stepped up and clapped him on the back. "Aw man, you're awesome."
"I love fish! I love fish!" Izzy shouted, grabbing one and biting into it raw—causing the others to recoil in horror.
"I… I guess we should cook it first," Izzy said sheepishly.
"How do you know how to fish?" Trent asked.
"My grandpa taught me. I caught a shark once; it bit me in the butt. Check it out."
Owen promptly dropped his pants to show his scar. Most of the Gophers groaned in disgust—except Izzy, who was mesmerized.
"That is so awesome!"
"Owen, pull your pants up and answer me. What happened to Ronnie Anne?" Trent asked.
"I saw her a while ago… but hasn't she made it back yet?"
Before they could worry further, a voice rang out.
"YO!"
Ronnie Anne emerged from the treeline, carrying a homemade wicker basket brimming with berries and vegetables.
"Whoa, Ronnie! Nice haul," Gwen said, impressed.
"How'd you find all this?"
Ronnie Anne shrugged. "My dad travels a lot for his work. He made camp in places like the Amazon, Peru, and other countries, so he's taught me a lot about wilderness survival and finding food."
Trent grinned. "Cool that your dad taught you this stuff. What does he do?"
"He's an animal doctor. He travels the world helping with sick animals, disaster relief, and epidemics that affect ecosystems."
The Gophers looked stunned by how much her dad did.
"Yo Owen, what you get?"
Owen proudly displayed the fish. Ronnie Anne rubbed her chin.
"These aren't red snapper, but I found some wild onions and garlic. With all this, I think I could make Pescado zarandeado."
The Gophers perked up.
"What do you need, Ronnie Anne?" Cody asked.
"I'll need rocks and sticks to make a grill, but I could definitely cook these into something tasty."
Everyone nodded and got to work—everyone except Heather, who glared coldly at Ronnie Anne.
⸻
Heather – CONFESSIONAL
"Grande-butt has been a thorn in my side since day one. But now she thinks she will lead this team? I don't think so."
Heather grinned wickedly.
"Time to have some fun."
⸻
The gopher had collected plenty of stones and sticks and helped build a grill for Ronnie Anne who was busy cooking the fish.
The campfire flickered warmly as the flames crackled, sending tiny sparks dancing into the darkening sky. Ronnie Anne moved deftly by the fire, the smell of fresh fish grilling on a crude platform of sticks and stones filling the air with a smoky, mouthwatering aroma. The makeshift grill wasn't perfect—it was a little wobbly and uneven—but it was holding steady, and the fish sizzled and popped over the glowing embers.
Owen overlooked the camp, his round face glowing with pride and contentment. He loved how well the group was pulling together—how each person found their role, no matter how small.
"Okay. Fire's hot. Fish are grilling. Tent is tenting." Owen grinned proudly, his usual cheerful tone full of satisfaction.
Trent clapped Owen on the shoulder, a broad smile spreading across his face.
"Nice goin', with the fish, man. And Ronnie Anne, that smells incredible."
Ronnie Anne flipped the fish with practiced ease, using the sticks to turn them on the grill. She'd built a little platform to keep the fish from falling directly into the fire, working quickly but carefully. The edges of the fish were already crisping, their skin glistening with juices.
"No problem, but Owen deserves more of the credit. Nice work catching these, dude." She smiled, proud but humble.
"Thanks, Ronnie. I owe it all to grandpa." Owen's eyes softened at the mention of his grandfather.
The mention of Owen's grandfather sparked Trent's curiosity and reminded him of a story Owen had told early in the trip.
"So you and your grandpa really fought a bear once?" Trent asked, leaning forward with interest.
All eyes turned to Owen as he settled back, clearly gearing up to relive the memory. His voice grew serious and a little awed.
"Heck yes. It was the scariest day of my entire life. We were out in the woods when we came upon the great beast. I tell you, he was ten feet high if he was a foot! And then he roared his terrible roar! RAHHHHH!!!" Owen's voice boomed as he mimicked the terrifying sound, making some of the younger gophers jump.
"We grabbed our shotgun. We knew it was either him or us. It was nothing personal, just the law of the wild." His eyes gleamed with respect and a hint of pride. "And then, bam! One shot was all it took to fell the great beast. We took his blood and marked ourselves to honor him. It was a good death."
The gophers were captivated, hanging on every word. Most were wide-eyed with amazement—though a few exchanged skeptical glances, quietly wondering if Owen might be embellishing.
Ronnie Anne turned some fish over the grill, the smoky aroma mingling with the night air before she raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"Dude, are you sure you're remembering that right? That sounds like something off of Rambo."
Owen chuckled, shaking his head.
"Love that movie, but nope, that was how me and grandad took it down."
Heather rolled her eyes, unimpressed with Owen's story but amused nonetheless.
"Yeah right. There's no way you took down a ten-foot bear. Hey, has anyone seen crazy girl?"
Heather noticed the absence of their wild card—the only psychopathic member of the team.
"I think she had to pee." Lindsay piped up quietly, remembering Izzy's sudden departure earlier.
"That was over an hour ago! Izzy! Izzy?!" Trent called out, a rising edge of concern in his voice.
Owen's worry grew too, and he shouted desperately for the fiery-haired girl he secretly cared about.
"Izzy the Gopher, where are you?!"
Suddenly, the bushes rustled, and the gophers collectively held their breath, thinking Izzy had finally returned. Owen stepped cautiously toward the noise, eager to welcome her back.
"Good. We thought we lost you there for a minute…. Great Pyramid of Giza!" he exclaimed in relief.
But what Owen saw emerging was not Izzy. It was an enormous grizzly bear, its dark fur blending with the shadows, eyes gleaming ominously.
[Grrrrrrrr]
"Santa mierda." Ronnie Anne muttered under her breath, backing away from the fire.
The camp erupted into chaos. The gophers panicked, their screams filling the night air. Cody was frozen in fear, paralyzed and trembling so hard he wet his pants.
"AHHHHHHH!!!! We're all going to die! We're gonna get eaten alive by a bear! Oh, the horror! Somebody help us! I want my mommy!" Owen wailed, shaking uncontrollably. As he dashed around like a headless chicken, his usual confidence shattered. Before he could think, he tripped and fell flat on his face.
"The trees! Climb into the trees!" Heather shouted, her voice cutting through the hysteria.
The gophers scrambled up the nearest trees, their fingers clawing at the bark, desperate to escape the looming predator below.
⸻
The howl of a wolf pierced the night as Katie and Sadie trudged through the underbrush, trying to find their way back to camp. Their breaths came in ragged gasps, the fear palpable.
"Katie, look. It's the tree with the fork in it. That's good, right?!" Sadie's voice was a shaky mix of hope and uncertainty.
Katie's face twisted in panic.
"No. It's not good. It's the same tree we saw two hours ago! We just walked in a gigantic circle!"
[Hoot. Hoot.]
Suddenly, an eerie owl hooted nearby, sending chills down their spines.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" They screamed in terror, stumbling blindly into a nearby cave.
"We'll be safe here until morning," Katie whispered, trying to sound braver than she felt.
Nearby bats flitted nervously, the fluttering wings adding to their growing dread.
"We're going to die here. We're going to die here!" Sadie shrieked hysterically, her panic feeding Katie's fears and making their cramped shelter feel like a prison.
⸻
Back at the camp, the bass team savored the quiet night, enjoying their meal by the fire. But an owl's sudden hoot startled the surfer girl Bridgette.
"Ahh."
"Be cool. It's just an owl," Lincoln teased, flashing a small grin.
"Sorry. I just get real freaked out in the forest," Bridgette admitted, hugging herself.
"More of a city girl, huh?" Lincoln joked, causing Bridgette to shoot him a deadpan look.
Duncan smirked, enjoying the moment.
"This reminds me of this really scary story I heard once."
Geoff's eyes lit up in anticipation.
"Awesome. Tell it, man."
"Are you sure? Because the story I'm thinking of is pretty hardcore," Duncan warned.
Courtney rolled her eyes, her usual sarcastic tone slipping in.
"Ooh, we're so scared."
Duncan shrugged, relenting to the pressure.
"All right. But don't say I didn't warn you. One night, a lot like this one…"
⸻
An hour passed as Duncan spun his eerie tale, his voice dipping lower with every sentence.
"So suddenly… They—they heard this tap-tap-tapping on the side of the car. The girl started to freak out, and by this time, even the guy was getting a bit scared. So he turned the car on and stepped on it. When they got back to the girl's house, she opened the door and screamed! Because there, hanging from the door handle… was the bloody hook. They say that this killer is still alive, wandering these very woods. He could be just about anywhere, really. Maybe even right here!"
The bass screamed, jumping and hiding behind one another, their fear genuine and palpable.
"AHHHHHH!!!!!"
Harold, Bridgette, and Courtney dove behind DJ, who was trying to look brave but clearly felt the tension. Eva sat stiffly on a log, her knuckles white as she gripped the bark, struggling to hide her fear.
"HAHAHAHA HOOOO HAHAHAHA!!!!" Duncan laughed, proud of his story's effect.
Then he noticed one player completely unaffected—Lincoln, sitting on a rock with his arms crossed, totally calm.
"Seriously, grandpa? That was one of my best stories."
Lincoln shook his head with a half-smile.
"Sorry, dude. Should have told me that story when I was eleven. Most horror stories and movies don't work on me."
⸻
Lincoln - CONFESSIONAL
"Two years ago, when I was fourteen, my little sister Lucy got me and my older sister Luna to go see this movie called Terrifier 2. It was the R-rated, and Mom and Dad wouldn't let her go without at least two people with her. The movie was about this clown that stalked and butchered this girl and her friends. Lucy was only eleven but loved it completely. But I couldn't sleep with the lights off for a month, and Luna had to keep a baseball bat under her pillow for like a week. After I watched that, no other horror movie scared me. I've seen the entire Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th series, and tons of body horror stuff like The Fly, The Thing, etc. Absolutely nothing scared me—but trying to rewatch Terrifier… shudders It still freaks me out."
⸻
Courtney marched over to Duncan, arms crossed and visibly annoyed.
"Duncan, that was so not funny!"
"Oh, yes it was! I just wish it was all on camera! Uh, oh wait, it is!" Duncan grinned and pointed at the camera crew, delighted his prank was fully documented.
"You are so vile. Do your parents even like you?"
Duncan smirked, unfazed.
"I don't know, Jumpy McChicken. Haven't asked them lately."
The nearby howl of a wolf cut through the moment, making Courtney instinctively cling to Duncan. He smirked again, clearly enjoying the moment. Geoff gave him a thumbs up, happy for his friend's small victory.
⸻
Back in the trees, the gophers huddled nervously as the bear prowled below, sniffing the campfire and their scattered belongings.
"So what do we do now?" Trent asked the obvious question, eyes darting around the branches.
"Don't look at me." Heather raised her arms, clearly unwilling to take responsibility.
"It was your idea to climb the trees," Gwen shot Heather a sharp glare—the queen bee wasn't letting that go.
"Well, why don't you ask the bear-hunting expert?" Heather retorted, smirking.
All eyes turned expectantly to Owen.
"Hey Owen, what now?" Trent pressed.
"How should I know?" Owen's shrug wasn't the confident answer they wanted.
"Dude, you said you killed a bear!" Leshawna pointed out, reminding Owen of his earlier bravado.
"I was being theatrical!" Owen confessed sheepishly.
Ronnie Anne glared at him hard.
"I KNEW IT!!! Just like Rambo, my butt. The only bear you've ever been close to was probably a TEDDY BEAR!!!"
"AAHHHH BEARY I NEED YOU!" Owen screamed, calling for his imaginary teddy bear in desperation.
"This is all your fault! If you hadn't been growling like that, we never would've attracted him to our site!"
"Excuse me for living! AhhhAhhhhhHaaaa." Owen banged his head against the tree in frustration.
"Hey, hey, hey. Ease up on the guy. He did bring us all that fish." Trent tried to calm the group.
But the bear smelled the pescado zarandeado Ronnie Anne had been cooking and ambled closer to the fire pit, eyes locked on the delicious scent.
"Hey! Lay off our fish!" Heather screamed at the bear, but Ronnie Anne kicked her sharply from above.
"Are you a moron? Let it take the fish and go. I'd rather starve than get my skull bit open."
Lindsay's face went pale as the horrible truth sank in.
"It's probably already eaten Izzy!"
"Then it shouldn't be hungry anymore!" Heather said callously.
The group gasped at Heather's cold words about their missing teammate.
"…What? This is survival of the fittest. She should've just peed in her pants like Cody."
Cody hung his head in shame as Ronnie Anne shot Heather a fierce glare.
"Your blood temperature is probably in the negatives. Am I right, or is that giving you too much credit?"
Heather glared back, firing a cutting retort.
"Don't let that big butt of yours break the branch, but I'm sure the bear could live off that for the next decade."
Before Heather could savor the moment, Leshawna lobbed a pinecone at her head. The sudden weight shift had caused the branch to creak dangerously.
"AHHHHHH!!!" Leshawna yelled as she tumbled backward.
A low growl rumbled nearby.
[Grrrrrrrrrr.]
The bear advanced toward the terrified girl.
"Dear Abby, she's going to die!" Owen screamed, panic flooding his voice.
"Eh, nice bear. AHHH!!! Somebody help me!" Leshawna cried.
The gophers shouted wildly, giving wildly different advice.
"Leshawna, get up!"
"Run, look out!"
"Don't move!"
The only calm figure was Ronnie Anne, standing on a branch above. She pulled off her sneaker, drew back her arm, and hurled it straight at the bear's face. The shoe connected with a sharp thwack, causing the bear to clutch its eye in pain.
"Ah! My eye!!"
…only for it to cry out in English.
"Uh, did that bear just talk?"
Leshawna questioned aloud as the "bear" removed its head, revealing the face of their missing teammate, Izzy.
The gophers all gasped in surprise at the unexpected reveal.
"Oh my goodness, I did not see that coming!" Owen exclaimed, sliding down the tree like a firepole.
Izzy rubbed her eye, grinning mischievously.
"I could say the same for that sneaker. How'd you do that?"
Ronnie Anne slid down the tree grabbing her thrown shoe before getting in the psycho hose beast's face.
"That was the chancla skills my abuela taught me! And you're about to get up close and personal LESSON!!" Ronnie Anne said, brandishing the shoe again, finally managing to scare the crazy girl.
"Okay, I'm so confused right now."
Lindsay climbed down, speaking the obvious.
"You're not the only one, Izzy. What are you, some kind of weirdo?"
Gwen questioned the red haired girl as she backed away from Ronnie Anne and her painful sneaker.
"I thought it would be funny! Hahaha." Izzy nervously laughed as Ronnie Anne continued to glare at her.
⸻
Izzy - CONFESSIONAL
"Okay, okay, that was so funny, like 'Oh, it's a bear! Oh no!' And like 'We're all gonna die now! Help! Help!' Hahaha, and I'm like, 'Rah! I'm gonna eat you!' Like I could actually do that! There's no way, okay? Getting hit in the eye was not part of the plan though."
—————
The Bass had turned in for the night, resting in their tent after devouring the delicious fish Lincoln had cooked. Within moments, most were fast asleep—well, except for one.
Bridgette stirred restlessly, her bladder reminding her of nature's call. She sat up, eyes darting nervously around the darkened tent, the eerie tale Duncan told earlier still haunting her mind. Every creak of the trees outside made her heart race.
DJ, a light sleeper, heard her soft moans of discomfort and blinked awake.
"What's wrong? Gotta go pee?" he asked groggily.
"Like crazy, but I'm too scared to leave the tent," Bridgette whispered.
"Yeah, me too," DJ admitted, holding up a suspicious-looking jar with an awkward grimace.
The sight made Bridgette's face twist in both horror and decision.
"Okay, I'm going," she announced with a sigh.
The woods were pitch black, the towering trees casting ghostly shadows under the pale moonlight. Bridgette crept along the narrow path, every snap of a twig or flutter of wings making her jump. A sudden screech from overhead startled her as a group of bats flapped past, sending chills down her spine.
Then came the rustling—loud, close, and unidentifiable.
"Ack!" she shrieked, stumbling backward in fear. Her foot kicked a rock that flew straight into the bush, startling a deer that exploded out from hiding. In its panic, the deer barreled straight into the Bass tent, collapsing it.
Courtney, DJ, and Geoff screamed as the canvas wrapped around them. Duncan and Lincoln hurried to lift the tent.
"Nice going, surfer girl!" Duncan yelled, brushing dirt off his pants.
"Hey, lay off!!" Lincoln snapped, stepping between Duncan and Bridgette.
Duncan squared up, glaring. "You wanna repeat yourself, old man?"
Lincoln stared him down without hesitation. "I said LAY OFF!!! You scourge knockoff."
Courtney quickly wedged herself between them. "Let's focus on the tent, not killing each other."
Grumbling, both boys stepped back. With teamwork, they managed to reassemble the tent.
"Hey Bridgette, why are you even up?" Courtney asked.
"I have to pee," she admitted.
"I could scout out a place for you if you still need to go," Lincoln offered.
"Thanks, Lincoln," she said with a sheepish smile.
Together, they vanished into the woods.
⸻
Meanwhile, the Gophers had recovered from Izzy's earlier scare and were enjoying Ronnie Anne's grilled fish.
"Rockin' the Mexican fish sticks! These are great, Ronnie Anne," Izzy exclaimed, now out of her bear suit and tearing into her food with gusto.
"Izzy's crazy, but she's right. These fish destroy," Trent added, earning nods from the rest of the team.
Ronnie Anne rubbed the back of her head, blushing from the praise.
"Just a recipe my abuela taught me."
Leshawna, finishing her own helping, chuckled. "She the one who taught you to throw a shoe like a sniper?"
"Haha, yeah. My abuela Rosa is very old school with the chancla. Mostly aimed at my cousin Carl when he acts out. But she's the sweetest woman ever. Taught me more about cooking than I ever thought I'd know."
"Sounds like my mama," Leshawna said with a shiver. "Sweet as pie until you track mud into the house. That wooden spoon still haunts me."
Gwen smirked, grateful her parents leaned more toward time-outs. Still, curiosity won out.
"How do you know how to cook? Did your grandma teach you everything?"
Ronnie Anne gave a knowing grin.
"Heh, no. My dad traveled a lot for work. My mom's a head nurse, so she was always at the hospital. My brother Bobby had to do odd jobs to help out, so I ended up doing a lot of the cooking and cleaning. It wasn't bad. After the divorce, my dad actually moved to Great Lakes City, so I got to see him more and learned even more from the rest of the family there."
Gwen's eyes widened at the word divorce. "Oh my god, Ronnie, I'm so—"
"Whoa, easy Gwen," Ronnie Anne cut in, waving it off. "My parents didn't divorce for bad reasons. They just never saw each other and thought it wasn't fair. They still talk and care about each other. It worked out."
The team nodded, impressed by her maturity. Trent leaned forward.
"Cool you know how to cook this. Got any more recipes you can share?"
"You know what a churro cake is?" Ronnie Anne teased.
Before Trent could respond, Heather cut in with a dramatic sigh.
"All this food talk is gonna make me homesick. Anyone want to hear some gossip?"
The Gophers looked at her, confused, until Lindsay squealed, "Oh, oh, oh! I do!"
Heather smirked. "I saw some Bass members getting friendly on the beach yesterday morning."
The group leaned in.
"It was that white-haired guy, Lincoln, and the surfer girl, Bridgette. They were on the beach practicing. And then I saw…"
⸻
[Flashback]
"So like this, Bridgette?" Lincoln balanced on a surfboard.
"Yeah, just bring your foot forward like this…"
She moved to correct him, but the shift in weight made Lincoln slip—Bridgette falling with him. They landed, faces inches apart.
They both laughed nervously before standing up.
From behind the treeline, Heather observed with glee.
⸻
"…and they were like this close apart," Heather said, holding her fingers two inches apart. "I think he planned it just to get closer."
Owen, Izzy, and Beth smiled at the mental image. Leshawna, Gwen, and Trent looked mildly alarmed. Lindsay practically vibrated with excitement.
"Ooooh, they would be soooo cute together."
[SNAP!]
A loud stick cracked underfoot. Everyone turned. Ronnie Anne stood, eyes burning with fury.
"I'm going to the bathroom," she said coolly, and stalked off into the woods.
Concerned looks followed her. But attention soon shifted—rustling came from nearby bushes.
A bear emerged, drawn by the noise and the scent of food.
"Heh. Wow, that costume is really good," Izzy said. "I thought mine was solid, but this one's next level."
"It's probably Chris trying to mess with us," Owen added. "Nice try, man."
He honked the bear's nose.
"We know you're not a bear, dude."
Honk.
[Grrrrrrr…]
Gwen stepped closer, squinting. "I don't know… This one looks kinda real."
Heather's face dropped. "Chris did say there were bears…"
"Haha, come on guys, they're trying to punk us twice!" Owen declared. "This isn't a real bear and I'm gonna prove it."
He grabbed at the "mask" and ripped a patch of fur off—revealing skin underneath.
"Wow… That does look kind of real," he said, now sweating.
[GRAHHHHH!!!!]
The bear growled furiously and slapped the fur back onto its body.
"…Yeah. That's a real bear."
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Screaming, the Gophers bolted for the trees again.
⸻
Now perched high in the branches, the team huddled together.
"This sucks," Heather muttered.
"Are we really gonna spend the whole night up here?" Lindsay groaned.
"Blame the bear expert or psycho girl," Gwen snapped, glaring at Owen and Izzy.
Leshawna scanned the group. "Wait… Where's Ronnie Anne?!"
"RONNIE ANNE!!!" Trent shouted, panic rising. The team joined in.
Finally, she returned—still radiating jealous rage.
"I'm here. If Owen ate all the fish I—"
She trailed off, eyes locking on the actual bear stalking nearby.
[Grrrr…]
"Izzy, I swear to god…"
The bear stepped closer.
"Izzy, I'm warning you…"
Closer still.
"This is your last chance…"
The bear stood on its hind legs.
[Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…]
"IZZY I SAID KNOCK IT OFF!!!!!!"
The bear froze. The roar of fury from Ronnie Anne shook the woods.
"I HAVE BEEN COOL WITH A LOT OF STUPID STUFF, BUT THIS MORONIC STUNT IS PAST. MY. LIMIT. SO BEAT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The bear whimpered, dropped to all fours, and fled—terrified of a true apex predator.
The Gophers stared, stunned, then began to climb down the tree..
Trent was the only one who spoke as the group of Screaming Gophers carefully climbed down from the tree branches where they'd spent most of the night.
"What?"
Ronnie Anne turned to look at
Everyone, she was staring at their group with obvious confusion—until her eyes landed on Izzy, safe and sound among them. Her brows furrowed.
"Wait, if Izzy is there… who… was…?"
She trailed off, her mind trying to put the pieces together. Before she could finish the thought, Owen—still catching his breath—pointed toward the shadows where the bear had fled.
"You scared off a real bear, Ronnie."
The realization hit her like a thunderclap. She turned slowly to look back into the woods, where the massive creature had vanished. For a second, all she could do was gape.
Her teammates surrounded her with grins and relieved laughter, genuinely happy she'd returned to them unharmed—and clearly impressed. But while some of the Gophers smiled, others stared at her with wide eyes. There was a new layer of awe and uncertainty in their gazes, now that they realized just how fearless—and dangerous—she could be when cornered.
The moment of tension passed as the sky above gave a low rumble. Rain began to fall in sheets. Without another word, the entire team bolted for their tent, laughter and footsteps fading beneath the roar of the downpour. Whatever had happened, they were safe for the night—and more united than ever.
————
The Bass team's tarp held firm against the elements, its edges flapping faintly in the strengthening wind. Beneath it, the team lay bundled in their sleeping bags, completely out cold—except for two drenched figures sprinting toward shelter from the storm.
"Crap, I was hoping the rain would start later."
Lincoln and Bridgette emerged from the tree line, soaked to the bone, their footsteps squishing in the mud as they hurried under the tarp's cover. Rain poured down in thick sheets now, drumming loudly against the plastic overhead. Their breath came out in heavy puffs as they stood there, dripping and trying to shake off the chill.
"At least we made it back. Sorry about—"
"Ya have to pee, ya have to pee, don't worry Bridgette," Lincoln interrupted with a tired chuckle, brushing the hair from his eyes. "Just take off anything drenched, can't soak the tent up."
Bridgette didn't hesitate. She peeled off her waterlogged hoodie, leaving her in a clinging white tank top that was just damp enough to be tolerable. She wrung out her hoodie with practiced ease, her fingers trembling slightly from the cold.
"Lucky my hoodie took the brunt of it."
Across from her, Lincoln yanked off his orange button-up, followed quickly by the red shirt underneath. He stood bare-chested now, steam rising subtly from his skin in the cool night air.
"Both my shirts got drenched."
Bridgette paused, mid-motion. Her eyes widened slightly as they settled on Lincoln. Her breath caught as she took in the lean, sculpted muscle of his chest and stomach, the defined cuts and lines standing out even in the dim lighting. She'd seen plenty of muscular guys before—surfers, athletes—but something about Lincoln's physique was different. Toned, yes, but almost too defined. It made her blink.
"Whoa…"
Her voice was low, caught between awe and disbelief. She barely noticed herself staring until Lincoln snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"What?"
He waved his hand again, smirking slightly. "It's a stomach and chest. Everyone has them… well except for Heather with a chest, but that's beyond the point."
Bridgette blinked out of her daze and laughed under her breath, nodding while sneaking another glance. The smirk lingered on her lips, though she didn't say anything more about it.
"Let's try to sleep through the storm."
Lincoln casually draped his soaked clothes over a tarp post, spreading them out as best he could to dry. Bridgette did the same, still stealing glances from the corner of her eye as she followed him into the tent. The sound of rain grew louder, but for now, under the tarp and within the tent's cover, they were warm, safe, and—if only for a moment—utterly at peace.
The best friends had stumbled upon a narrow cave tucked behind a curtain of vines and moss, a fortunate find in the middle of the rainy wilderness. It wasn't much—just a shallow recess in the rock barely big enough for both of them—but it offered shelter from the storm and the looming darkness of the forest. They sat side by side, knees hugged to their chests, trembling as distant thunder rumbled overhead.
Despite the relative safety, neither girl could sleep. Every hoot of an owl or crack of a branch outside sent fresh waves of panic through them. The cold stone pressed against their backs, and the damp air clung to their clothes, but it was fear, not discomfort, that kept their eyes wide open.
"Ahhhh, how much longer until daytime?"
The whimper cut through the stillness as one of them clutched her arms tighter. Her voice was shaky, worn from hours of anxious silence.
"Ugh, I think that was the worst night of my entire life. Ahhh, it was even worse than the night I went out with that guy with the manky bad breath 'cause he ate those sausages at that place next to that big lemon that Caitlyn girl worked at. What?"
Her voice trailed off as she turned to her friend, who was now frozen in place. Eyes wide, mouth agape, she slowly raised a shaking finger and pointed toward the cave entrance.
There, just at the edge of the shadows, the massive bear had returned. Its hulking frame moved slowly, cautiously, as it stepped back into the cave it called home. But something was different. Its posture wasn't predatory—it was anxious. Skittish. The bear's eyes darted around the cave nervously, and it kept glancing over its shoulder as if expecting something—or someone—to leap out at it again.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!!"
The girls screamed in unison, bolting from the cave like rockets. Their limbs flailed as they tore through the underbrush, adrenaline giving them speed they didn't know they had. Leaves slapped their faces and branches tugged at their clothes, but they didn't dare slow down.
Back in the cave, the bear let out a low, pathetic whimper and sank down onto its haunches, clearly still traumatized. It shivered, wrapping its bulky arms around itself like a frightened cub. As it rocked gently back and forth, trying to calm its nerves, a torn tuft of fur slipped from its head and floated down to the cave floor—one last reminder of the terrifying force that had driven it away the night before.
Ronnie Anne.
————————
The first pale rays of dawn crept over the treetops, casting a golden hue across the dew-covered campsite. The rhythmic chirping of birds echoed through the clearing, a soft and peaceful contrast to the chaos of the night before. Inside the tent, groggy moans began to rise as the Screaming Gophers slowly stirred from their sleep.
"I think it's morning, guys."
The tent flap rustled as Trent crawled out into the fresh air, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He stretched his arms wide, trying to shake off the stiffness from a long, uneasy night on the forest floor.
"Aahhh, is that bear gone?"
Another voice followed him—nervous, uncertain. One camper hesitated just inside the opening of the tent, peering out with visible hesitation. His fingers curled around the flap, as if expecting the bear to be lurking just beyond the trees.
"Move it, Rambo."
The words were sharp and impatient. With a firm shove, Ronnie Anne pushed the so-called bear expert out of the way and marched past him, clearly done with all the tiptoeing and panic.
"You know what the grande-butt is right for once, you and crazy girl were the whole reason we were in that tree to begin with."
Heather stormed out after her, arms crossed and expression sharp with irritation. Her glare was aimed squarely at Owen and Izzy, the culprits behind the night's mayhem. The rest of the Gophers emerged in a slow trickle, joining the growing circle of accusatory stares.
"Ahaha…"
Owen let out a shaky, nervous laugh as he and Izzy huddled together. His usual smile was tight and forced, eyes darting as the tension in the air thickened. Izzy didn't seem too bothered, but even she took a cautious step back as the team's frustration bubbled up.
"You know what, forget it. I say if we lose the challenge we vote one of them off."
Ronnie Anne's voice cut through the chatter with cold conviction. She wasn't in the mood for any more chaos. The rest of the team murmured in agreement, heads nodding, arms crossed.
With that unspoken pact made, the Gophers packed up quickly, eager to get out of the woods and back to camp. Owen and Izzy lagged behind only for a moment before sprinting to catch up—clearly the most motivated members of the team to avoid another elimination ceremony with their names on the line.
——————-
The early morning broke gently, the soft pattering of squirrels scurrying through the underbrush outside stirring the sleeping Bass. Inside the tent, Courtney lay curled up on a surprisingly plush and comfortable surface, her breathing slow and even in deep sleep.
"Morning, sunshine."
A teasing voice cut through the calm, and Courtney's eyes snapped open in sudden realization.
"Huuhuu, Oh my gosh! Ew! You were cuddling me!"
Her voice was loud and shocked as she pulled away quickly, cheeks flushing bright red. She found herself pressed against Duncan's broad chest.
"I was calmly lying on my back and trying to catch a few Z's. You were snuggling up to me."
"You are such an ogre."
"I've been called worse."
Their playful bickering roused the rest of the Bass from their sleep, the soft murmur growing as the team slowly came alive under the tarp.
⸻
Courtney - CONFESSIONAL
"Okay, I just wanna say for the record, that I was totally asleep and therefore, unconscious at the time of the 'alleged cuddling' with said Neanderthal. So essentially, it's like it never happened."
⸻
"If you two wanna make out do it outside the tent."
Lincoln's joke earned a few chuckles from the group, while Duncan smirked and added to the teasing.
"We were trying to be sneaky but I guess Courtney wanted to get caught."
Courtney shot Duncan a fierce glare but was already climbing out as the rest of the Bass filed out around her.
"We weren't making out."
She insisted, trying to sound convincing as Duncan flashed his usual cocky grin while stepping out behind her.
"And you I don't want to hear… any… jokes…whoa… holy…"
Courtney's words caught in her throat as Lincoln stepped out of the tent, still bare-chested from the previous night's rain.
All eyes immediately fixed on him—his chest and stomach were sculpted, every muscle sharply defined. The arms that Courtney had assumed were slender held surprising strength and tone.
"What?"
Lincoln looked puzzled, suddenly self-conscious, until Geoff broke the silence with a loud grin.
"Hey Lincoln do I need to call a doctor?"
Lincoln blinked, confused.
"Why?"
Grinning wider, Geoff teased, "Cause you are all CUT UP!"
Though it was meant as a joke, Lincoln's face turned serious for a moment.
"WHAT! Where? Am I BLEEDING?!?!" he asked frantically, patting down his torso.
The Bass burst out laughing, trying to calm him down.
"No wait—"
"Chill—"
"He meant—"
Only Duncan managed to get through to him with a shrug.
"You're a weirdly buff dude."
Lincoln's face morphed into a deadpan expression as he grabbed his orange overshirt—finally dry—and pulled it on. The red Ace Savvy shirt was still soaked through so that was carried in his hand for the rest of the day.
"We need to get moving. The Screaming Gophers might be at camp already."
He tossed Bridgette her dried hoodie as the rest of the Bass made a beeline toward the campgrounds.
"Camp back east. I can tell by how the sun has set where we camped. Come on!"
They followed him quickly, but Geoff couldn't help himself and leaned over to DJ.
"He is pretty yoked."
"Big time dude," DJ agreed with a nod.
——————
Back at Camp Wawanakwa, Chris was busy stacking logs onto the fire pit, the flames flickering eagerly as he prepared for the elimination ceremony. The tension was thick in the air as teams trickled back from the challenge.
"We're the first ones back!" The Killer Bass burst into camp, panting and triumphant.
Chris looked momentarily surprised, his eyes widening. "Oh no! They beat us here!"
Before anyone could celebrate, a voice rang out across the clearing.
"Uh uh uh uh. Not so fast, Gopherinos! It seems that the Killer Bass are disqualified."
The Bass froze, shock rippling through the group.
"WHAT?! Why, the entire team is here," Lincoln protested, stepping forward.
Chris pointed casually behind them.
There, emerging from the cabins, were Katie and Sadie, looking sheepish but unharmed.
"I was sure you two got eaten by wolves last night."
Courtney gave them a stiff nod of acknowledgment as Chris continued, his tone firm.
"You see, last night these two came running back after a near encounter with a bear. They stayed in the cabin for the rest of the night. When the challenge was supposed to be in the woods, they didn't complete the challenge. Therefore, the Screaming Gophers win."
He paused for effect, then grinned.
"All right, Killer Bass. One of your fishy butts is going home. Gophers, you're going on an all-expense-paid trip to… the Tuck Shop!"
Cheers erupted from the Screaming Gophers, their excitement filling the camp as the Bass all glared daggers at Katie and Sadie, clearly blaming them for the loss.
"Dude, Chris, that's not fair! These two wandered off on their own—we had no idea where they were all night," Lincoln argued, frustration clear in his voice.
Chris smirked, looking directly at Lincoln.
"Sorry, bro. You win as a team, or not at all… and… that… ok man, I'm gonna find you a shirt, 'cause your body is making me uncomfortable."
He shook his head, glancing at Lincoln's developed physique with a mix of envy and admiration.
"Heh, sorry about your loss, albino. I… guess… holy…" Heather tried to gloat at Lincoln, but the words faltered as her eyes involuntarily flicked to his chiseled form.
"… Heather… hello?"
Lincoln waved dismissively at the queen bee, a smirk tugging at his lips as all the gophers turned to look at him.
The girls were shocked; the guys speechless. Owen, exhausted from running, passed out from the sheer sight.
"WHAT IS WITH EVERYONE???!!!" Lincoln shouted in disbelief.
Ronnie Anne just smirked, amused at her friend's predicament.
Leshawna leaned in, whispering conspiratorially, "Girl, locked that boy down. I see some other interested parties."
She nodded toward Katie and Sadie, who were clearly enamored by Lincoln.
⸻
Katie and Sadie - CONFESSIONAL
"Did you see how ripped Lincoln was, Sadie?"
Sadie nodded eagerly.
"He had those, what were they called… *bleep* gutters."
"Oh, that's just gross!"
Katie shook her head in disbelief.
"What? That's what they're called."
"You watch way too much Adult Swim."
—————-
The Screaming Gophers were reveling in their victory, sprawled out around the camp with all their loot from the Tuck Shop: piles of candy, bags of chips, and soda bottles cracked open and fizzing, a feast to celebrate their win. Heather, Ronnie Anne, Leshawna, Trent, and Gwen lounged in the hot tub, steam swirling around them in the cool evening air.
"This is the life," Ronnie Anne sighed contentedly, leaning her back against the hot tub's edge, crunching on chips and sipping soda.
Trent, ever curious, leaned forward with the million-dollar question burning in his eyes. "So what does Lincoln do to get… like… that…"
The group leaned in closer, eager for answers.
Ronnie Anne shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know… Lincoln helps his older sister with MMA and boxing… pair that with working out a lot… he got like that a year or two ago."
There was a slight collective sigh—maybe a bit underwhelmed, but understanding.
Heather, though, couldn't get past what she'd seen. Her voice dropped a little, a teasing sneer on her lips. "I mean… like… those abs… such a shame a body that nice is wasted on a dork that big."
Ronnie Anne shot her a sharp glare.
Leshawna grinned and without warning splashed a wave of water at Heather, who rubbed her eyes, annoyed.
"You'd never get that boy in this lifetime stickbug." Leshawna teased.
Heather blinked, shaking the water from her lashes. "I don't want him, period. I want a man like me—someone handsome and smart enough to keep up with me."
Gwen rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Let's hope we never meet him."
Laughter bubbled through the group, lightening the mood.
Leshawna leaned closer to Ronnie Anne, her voice dropping to a serious whisper. "Seriously, girl, lock. Him. DOWN."
Her tone was firm, underscoring how important it was for Ronnie Anne to take charge — especially since everyone at camp was well aware of Lincoln's undeniable appeal.
⸻
Ronnie Anne - CONFESSIONAL
"Ok, Lincoln isn't shallow to just go after the first girl who notices him… after Christina… he hasn't tried to… find anyone…"
She sighed deeply, the weight of her thoughts pressing down.
"I just wish he'd see that I'm—"
Her heart almost spilled out, but she caught herself.
"OH SHUT UP!!!"
She punched the camera with a frustrated thud.
⸻
Chris - CONFESSIONAL
Chris adjusted the camera's angle, frustration creasing his brow.
"That's like the tenth one, I swear that girl breaks another camera she is so out of here."
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
⸻
Chef - OUTSIDE THE CONFESSIONAL
"Yo Chris, the viewer ratings and reviews came back, check this out."
Chef slid a sheet of paper through the crack in the door. Chris grabbed it, scanning the glowing reviews praising the show's drama — with Lincoln and Ronnie Anne's storyline dominating the feedback.
⸻
Chris - CONFESSIONAL
Chris grinned widely, a spark of excitement breaking through his usual deadpan.
"Ya know what, we can just order more cameras, hahaha."
The numbers spoke volumes — viewers were loving this girl and her romance journey.
———
Night had fully fallen, the campfire casting flickering shadows over the tired faces of the Killer Bass as they gathered around the firepit. Chris stood before them, holding a tray with eight marshmallows—one for each remaining contestant. The quiet crackling of the fire was the only sound for a moment.
"You've all cast your votes," Chris announced, his voice cutting through the night. "The camper who does not receive a marshmallow must immediately hit The Dock of Shame, grab the Boat of Losers, and get the heck outta here. And you can't come back. Ever."
The Killer Bass looked drained from the day's challenge. Most seemed resigned, but two of them—Katie and Sadie—were visibly trembling, their wide eyes darting nervously between each other.
Chris gave a slow nod, as if to remind them all what was at stake.
"Now. I can see you're all tired, so tonight, I'll just throw them to you. Savvy?"
He tossed the first marshmallow with perfect aim.
"Courtney."
Courtney caught it with a practiced smile, trying to mask the tension in her shoulders.
"Duncan."
Duncan caught his marshmallow too, flashing a cheeky wink at Courtney, who immediately scowled, crossing her arms.
"Bridgette. DJ. Lincoln. Harold. Geoff. Eva."
One by one, the contestants caught their marshmallows, some smiling, some relieved, as they bit into the sugary treats.
Only one marshmallow remained on the tray.
Chris held it up with a dramatic pause.
"The final marshmallow of the evening…"
The spotlight was on the two best friends, clutching each other tightly in fear.
"Katie, Sadie. Both of you are guilty of the same thing—you wandered away from your team and got lost before you made it back to camp, only to bail on the challenge and sleep in your own beds while the others braved the dangerous woods."
Both girls hung their heads, shame etched across their faces.
Chris then handed the last marshmallow to the lucky one.
"The final marshmallow goes to… Katie."
"No! Why Sadie? Why her?!" Sadie's voice cracked, disbelief and panic rising.
"It's so unfair!"
"I so can't do this! I've never been anywhere without Sadie! We have to be together or I'll totally die!"
Sadie pulled Katie close, whispering fiercely, "Katie, listen to me. You can do this. You are strong and beautiful, and like, way smarter than me. And plus, you're like, the prettiest girl I know. You have to do it for both of us!"
Katie's face softened. She wrapped her arms around Sadie one last time before stepping toward the Dock of Shame, her steps shaky but determined.
"I miss you already!" Katie called from the dock, her voice trembling but brave.
"I miss you more!" Sadie shouted back from the boat.
"No, I miss you more!"
"No way! I totally miss you more!"
"I miss you infinitely more! Bye!"
Katie waved through tears as the boat slowly pulled away from the island, the flicker of campfire light shrinking behind her.
The team watched in silence around the firepit. Some felt sympathy for Katie's sorrow and Sadie's departure, others looked away, hardened by the game.
"Yo Courtney!" Duncan strolled over to the CIT, who rolled her eyes sharply.
"What do you want now?"
Duncan's usual grin softened, replaced by a rare remorseful expression.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry I scared you."
Courtney scoffed, clearly unimpressed.
"I was not scared. It was completely circumstantial. And there is no such thing as a hook man."
Duncan smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"Yeah, you're probably right… Or ARE YOU?!"
With a flourish, Duncan flashed the hook on his hand again, making Courtney jump and squawk.
"Ugh! I hate you!"
She stormed off back to the firepit, leaving Duncan satisfied.
"She so doesn't hate me."
Duncan crossed his arms, the hook forgotten — until it suddenly pierced his forearm.
"AH!"
And with that, another exciting episode of Total. Drama. Island. came to a close!