Alternatively

Total Drama Summer Camp (ii.)

There is already blood on the battlefield.

"It's whatever," Butch shrugs.

"You have a branch through your hand!"

"It's a splinter in his thumb," Annabeth grunts, hefting a box of wooden parts in her arms. "Just grab one of those platforms and start walking."

Micheal reluctantly grabs his share and marches into the heat, following the line of red bandanas through the trees. The team looks like determined little worker ants, carting off pieces of their catapult with the hustle of a college football team looking to score that prime draft real estate. Each piece is carefully sent off in order of how it should be rebuilt from the ground up, all under the careful eyes of Jason, Annabeth, and Leo. The latter two personally dismantle the contraption while Jason makes sure to commit the pieces to memory.

The Blue team is a different story.

"Someone please grab the things that go on that thing!"

"Who took the ammo?"

"I swear I just left that thingy on the thing..."

    Charles Beckendorf, 17

    "I mean..." he shrugs helplessly. "I tried to help, but...Piper almost killed me when I moved something from the pile she created."

Their catapult is being dismantled faster than the Red's, though no one really knows what they're doing. Beckendorf keeps track best he can, but eventually he just shakes his head and helps Ethan and Hazel with a box of somethings. The clock is running and the sun is merciless, beating down hard as the campers race against time.

"Okay," Piper shields her eyes. "Okay! We gotta get the frame to the beach! Frank and Katie, follow me with the fulcrum and whatever that thing is, Clovis, get the ammo!"

"Where did the other two go?" Ethan grunts.

"Yeah," Katie fumbles with a plank of wood. "They've been gone for like, ever."

In actuality, Travis and Percy are crouched in the forest, watching the trail of Red team members march to the beach. They had already situated the catapult arm and counterweight in the sand and are waiting for the best time to put their plan into action.

    Percy Jackson, 16

    "Their line seemed to never end, but I know they weren't gonna stay on the beach, no one knew how to build the thing without their missing teammates. They needed to go back."

    Travis Stoll, 16

    "It's not my battle, but it is a chance to get some spotlight," he waggles his eyebrows. "And I mean, it's not like there are actual rules here."

The host squints from his golf cart, watching the events transpire from his tablet. There is a little fan hooked on the rearview mirror and the drink in his hand is still frosty. "Now, legally, I can see where this might go wrong. But, seeing as my career is based on drama, I'm gonna let this petty revenge play out to it's fullest."

Both teams work to get everything to their respective locations on the beach, the expected arguing and yelling drifting through the crowd, but there is progress. As the Blue builds their platform, the Red waits for the three brains, making sure everything is in designated piles. Clarisse uses that time to bully Micheal into staying out of her sight "Or else" and grumble begrudgingly to Silena as they stood in the shade.

"I think freckles are neat," the smaller girl says. "I only get 'em if I get a sunburn."

"I just think they look like blackheads."