The Challenge. (Started; accepting w/permission)

Spoiler

No! Don't die, Challenge!

Brigid|Waterfall

Zohan and Mario made it across without any problems. Warren would be the last to go--he was still on the other side, with Katherine. For some reason, he was lying down--resting, maybe?

Then Katherine knelt next to him and started shaking him. When he didn't respond, she checked his pulse. I bit my lip. What had happened?

Katherine got out her walkie-talkie and started muttering into it. Andy moved to go back across and help her, but she waved him away, and went back to inspecting Warren. He was unconscious, that much was clear--hopefully it wasn't anything too serious. There had already been one death; we didn't need another.

I stepped closer to the edge, trying to see what was wrong. "Katherine!" I called. "What happened?!"

"Bug bite!" Katherine called back. I could barely hear her over the roar of the waterfall. She started to say something else, but then her voice was drowned out completely, lost in the noise of the helicopter's rotor. The helicopter touched down behind Katherine, and the pilot hopped out and helped her move Warren inside. Once he was secure, the helicopter lifted off again, its wake nearly blowing Katherine over. Once it had disappeared from sight, Katherine crossed the waterfall herself and met us on the other side.

"Is Warren going to be okay?" Mario asked, hopping to his feet.

"Hopefully," Katherine answered. "Max--my brother--he's a good doctor. He'll know what to do. Now it's just a matter of finding out what bit him before he gets any worse.

"Alright," Katherine continued. "Let's keep going. Follow me, and try to stay close. I don't want any more injuries today."

Katherine started up the path, and we all followed her, more subdued this time. There were five of us left--Rose, Mario, Zohan, Andy, and me. Teal and Noah were back at base camp, Warren was heading back, and Rylet...well, we all knew what had happened to Rylet. I looked over at Rose. She was doing a lot better than before, but I could tell that she was still favoring her hurt leg. Part of me wanted her to succeed, but then I imagined having to run from something again. What would we do then?

Mario

I let Rose walk on her own, though I stayed as close to her as she would let me. She limped, but seemed to be doing okay. Andy came up beside me and for a few moments we shared a glance that meant we were both terrified, but determined to make it through. Not only that, but it seemed we were both set on keeping all five of us alive no matter what.

I looked away and kept walking, feeling my heart beat painfully inside my chest. We would make it. We had to.

Spoiler

Ok everyone I'm sorry I let this die. I've been extremely busy but lets try and get the Challenge started again ok?

Katherine

After traveling a good distance in the woods past the waterfall, we stopped to rest. I handed out water bottles that the chopper had brought and everyone snacked on what was in their packs. The kids were tired but I was sure they would make it. They were tough.
"Ok guys, tomorrow we start climbing the volcano. We will have gear. I don't want any more unfortunate accidents. Helmets, harnesses, ropes, etc. are over there. Pick what you want for tomorrow then get some sleep. We will be climbing a rock face tomorrow to get up to a cliff where we can take a path. I'm staying with you guys tonight."
The kids looked at me and nodded then headed over to the pile. They didn't fight over the gear but helped each person get something that fit. Then they headed into the woods to get some sleep. I should get some sleep too.

Spoiler

Woohoo! KeiPie's back!

Brigid|Woods

I picked a helmet and a harness from the pile Katherine had brought, and then went about tying a few extra knots, just in case. I was tempted to ask her how we'd be climbing the rock face tomorrow, but I didn't. It was supposed to be a challenge, after all. Knowing about it in advance would kind of defeat the purpose.

As I began building tonight's hammock, I noticed that the others were really tired. Sure, we were all tired--we'd hiked all day, after all--but they seemed more fatigued than normal. Their breathing was different...quicker, shallower.

Once my hammock was strung up, I jumped down from the tree and went to find Katherine. "Hey, Katherine?" I asked. "How high up are we?"

Katherine thought for a moment. "I think we're almost at seven thousand feet," she answered. "We should reach eight thousand tomorrow night." That explained their shallow breathing--there was thirty percent less oxygen up here.

I strolled back to my tree. It would be good to get a nice, long sleep tonight. Good for the others, too. Rock climbing was tough on its own; the altitude would only make it harder. I'd be fine--in fact, I felt great; the air was too thick at sea level--but the others were a different story.

Beneath my tree, Andy had made a little tent out of his coat. "Hey, Brigid," he said. He sounded tired.

"Hey, Andy," I replied. "Missing the Land of More Oxygen yet?" Andy just raised his eyebrows and chuckled.

Rosette| Woods
I smiled. I hadn't found any change in pressure or oxygen here.... Oh! That's right. I had hiked up our large mountain many times... I was used to it. I grabbed lots of equipment, and stuffed it in my backpack. I made sure that everything fit right. This would be easier if I were at home with the equipment I was used to... I had rock climbed before, but this was different....

KeiPie, I won't be able to write from Sunday 22 through Sunday 29 because I won't have a computer where I'll be at. Sorry. I'll try to write when I get back.

Spoiler

I'm semi back to the world of YWS now. I'll do my best to get this thing back and running

Mario

I leaned against a tree and watched Brigid and Andy mumbling nearby. Brigid had a nice hammock, and I couldn't help feeling jealous. Rosette had stuffed a bunch of gear in her pack and was already mentally planning her escape route. I considered going to talk to her but decided it would be better to let her be. I could see that she was ferociously planning her next move. She was determined to make it through. I wanted to go to the others, but in the end I chose to let my eyes drift closed. After all, the altitude was killing me, I needed to get enough rest. I sipped some water before letting my body drift to sleep.

A scream interrupted my sleep, but as I woke I realized it was morning anyway. Quickly I searched for the direction of the scream. I noticed a group of people standing around. I was too tired to figure out who was hurt, but I desperately hoped it wasn't Rose.

Spoiler

I thought maybe it would be nice to add some more problems. I can't think of who is still in the challenge but not participating in the writing. But whoever it is can die. or just get hurt.

Brigid

I was jolted awake by a shrill scream. I flinched, nearly falling out of my hammock, and then immediately reached for my pack and pulled out my knife. Screaming was never good, especially out here.

I slipped my pack on, and then climbed up into the canopy of my tree. I saw Mario jump to his feet near another tree, but he stumbled, almost losing his footing. He was fatigued--the altitude was taking its toll. I followed his gaze, and found Katherine and two others huddled together. I couldn't tell who the competitors were; it was too dark. Which one of them had screamed?