The Challenge. (Started; accepting w/permission)

Zohan

"I think i'd like to sit at the back" i said. even though we practiced it wasn't enough. i wanted to sit at the back so that none of them could see me. "maybe rose can take the middle and warren, you can take the front,if thats no problem to you guys." i said.
my stomach was in knots, the challenge was now begining. My parents would have almost the entire police force searching for me, so i wanted to hurry up and get on that island.

Brigid|Kayak

"Sure, Andy," I called to the front of the boat. "You and Rylet pick the pace. We've got a pretty good lead." I looked back at the other two kayaks--they were a fair way back, a hundred yards at least, by my estimate. I slowed down my paddle strokes to match Rylet's and Andy's.

"How far do you think we are from the island?" Rylet asked.

"I'd guess somewhere between three and a half and four miles," I answered. "We're gonna be fine, guys. Just think about the food." Rylet gave me a courtesy laugh.

We were going to be fine--Andy was strong, and Rylet had a practiced and efficient stroke. As long as we didn't wear ourselves out early, we'd have a good shot at the win...a very good shot.

Rosette/Katherine's boat

I have been talking with Zohan, and I have been trying REALLY hard to not show my nervousness.
"Hi," says Warren, sitting beside us.
"I, personally think we should spread out the weight... You know, put me in the middle, since I'm the smallest, put Warren in the back, and Zohan in front." I say.
"No, I think it would be better if you sit in the middle, Rosette, and I sit in the back. Warren, you can go in front." Said Zohan.
I turn and look at both guys. "I'm really scared... I know that we aren't the most "fit" team... I am pretty sure that Andy's team is going to win. They have an advantage." We all agree that Team 2 is by far going to be ahead of us.

I am breathing so hard now. Katherine says to get into our kayaks, and when she says "three" we will go. "Guys. Listen to me. We might have a chance if we pace ourselves. So, we all have to work together... We have to go steadily. I know if we go too fast, we will get exhausted in the first mile." We all agree.
"One... Two, Three... GO!" says Katherine.
We start paddling, and for some reason, we feel united. We plod on steadily, but notice that Andy's team is getting ahead. We are the last in the line. Shouting encouragement, I look at my team mates. "Guys. We CAN do this. We MUST do this. Don't lose heart. We'll make it." I start to pray silently. With that little prayer, we speed on. YES! We pass Team 3. They look like they are having a fight.
"We're going good!" says Warren.
"I know! I'm so excited. Lets plod on steadily. You guys continue paddling. I brought a bit of water. I'll share it. Here" I say handing some water around.
"Thanks, Rose." they both say in unison. This team is good. We are united. We are happy.

zohan

as we paddeled along, (it was easy to paddle with roses' encouragement) i felt something from below crawl my legs. at first i thought it was nothing but then i saw a huge spider was in side.
I was so close to screaming, but then that would ruin everything. i had to try and muffle my gasps. i then tried to shake it off but then the kayak started rocking. "eew! eew! eeeeewwww!" i muttered to myself. i assumed that warren couldn't hear me since he was up in front and that rose was encouraging us some more. i wasn't sure if she heard me or not.
it was now crawling up my leg. i was now freaking out even more. I had to think of something before i really did scream, so i threw my paddle in the water. it landed inside with a big splash. "oops!" i say and desperately plunge into the icy water. the spider was now off me and i let out a sigh. climbing back inside the kayak i couldn't help but say, "sorry about that, i'm a little clumsy...would any of you happen to have bug repelent by any chance. I have ...food in my bag that i want to protect"

Warren-
I toss him my bug spray.
"Use it sparingly, I don't have that much," I tell Zohan. I watch him use it, then take it back and put it back into my pack. I turn back to my own paddle. One of the other teams is far ahead of us and I don't know if we'll be able to catch up, though we are gaining on them a bit.

Katherine|Observing the race from her boat

(speaking on walkie talkies) "Ok everyone! You are all only about a mile a way from shore. It gets pretty shallow there so as soon as the kayak touches the bottom, jump out and run to shore. I'll be watching. Good luck!"

Andy|Kayak Race

"Did you hear that? We're really close," I say. I'm happy we're close. My arms are tired and I'm very thirsty. I hope we win that food.
"Do either of you have any water? I'm parched!" Suddenly our craft bumps on something and by instinct I dive into the water only to find that I can't touch the bottom. The girls are laughing at me. I decide to laugh along to not make myself look stupid.
"It could have been the shore," I say knowing that there was no way since we were still far away. I guess I'm too anxious to get to shore. I sheepishly climb back into the kayak.
"So anyone have water?" I try to continue the conversation as if nothing happened.
"I would think that you got enough water when you decided to go swimming," says Rylet.
"It was salt water!" I say half laughing half yelling. Then I shake my wet hair so that water gets on her behind me. I laugh as she wipes her face off.

Spoiler

This is assuming the bags are with them on the kayak. If they aren't, I can edit.

Rylet - Kayak Race

Andy jumps in the water and Brigid and I laugh, knowing full well the shore was nowhere around. Laughing along with us, he sheepishly climbs back in the boat and asks for water.
"I would think that you got enough water when you decided to go swimming." I reply with a smirk.
"It was salt water!" He half-yells, half-laughs.
He shakes his hair and water sprays over my face. I squeal before breaking out into a laughing fit as I pause to wipe my eyes.
"You're such a nut, Andy." I say, shaking my head and reaching in my bag.
I hand him my canteen.
"Not too much, please. I kind of need that." I tell him.

Andy|Kayak Race

"Not too much, please. I kind of need that," says Rylet as she hands me her water bottle.
"Thanks," I say. "I'll make sure to drink it all." She gives an indignant cry and I pretend to guzzle all her water. In truth I only take a small sip. Just enough to satisfy my parched throat. I toss it back to her and she checks to see how much I drank. I dip my paddle in the water again. We can't get too carried away having fun. We still have a mission. But I can't help putting my paddle in with a slap so that I splash Rylet right in the face, again.

Rylet - Kayak Race

Andy tosses the canteen back and I check to make sure he didn't take it all. Satisfied with the amount missing, I slip it back in my bag and pick up the oar again. Andy splashes his paddle into the water and sends a spray my way again.
"Andy!" I half-yell, half-laugh. "Stop it!"

Brigid|Kayak

"Guys, they're catching up!" I shouted, pointing behind us. I had to admit, Andy's swim was funny--I was still laughing--but I did want to win the food.

Andy handed Rylet's canteen back to her, and then splashed her again. "Andy, stop it!" Rylet laughed.

"Okay, guys," I said. "You paddle, and I'll steer. I think this is an atoll, so what we hit back there was probably coral. We're going to have to dodge some stuff."

Andy and Rylet started paddling, and I looked out in front of us for pieces of coral sticking up. When we approached the coral spikes, I dipped my paddle into the water, using it as a rudder to make the kayak turn. For a moment, I glanced back at the other two kayaks. They were probably wondering why we were weaving back and forth. Unless they had some experience with small boats, the coral would give them trouble.

"Keep it up, guys!" I shouted, trying to keep the tiring Rylet and Andy motivated. "Just half a mile to go!"

Rosette/Kayak

Splash!!! I turn around to see Zohan getting out of the cold water.
"Whoah! What were you doing in there?" Zohan looks embarrassed.
"Uh... Just a bit clumsy... Hah. I just wasn't paying attention. Do either of you two have bug spray?" Warren hands him a small bottle of bug spray.
"Oh no! We don't need this right now, Zohan. There is some wind out, and you are going to freeze! A frozen person will do us no good." I say. Before he can say anything, I take one of my extra jackets out of my backpack, and say, "Take off your jacket. Put this one on. You have to be warm enough, or you might get a cold."
"I- I don't know-" says Zohan. I reassure him.
"Just give it back when you're dry enough. It dries quickly."
Suddenly, I feel a shiver go up my spine. Watching the water, I see a huge looking fish swimming beneath us. I panic. "Guys. What's that?" I turn, and to my relief, it swims towards the team behind us, Teal's team. I notice that we are catching up to Andy's team. Wait... They are weaving, in and out. Splash! We bump against something.
"Oof." I groan. What is that? It can't be land. Looking around, I sight nothing.
"Warren, you're in the front, what did we hit? We have to be careful. It looks like the winning team is weaving... I think there is something here."

Warren-
I nod.
"We've reached coral, guys," I said, "we'll try not to slow down anymore, but we might have to." Pushing off from the coral, we start to weave around the coral. We only have to slow down slightly; we're still making pretty good time.

Andy|Kayak Race

"We're almost there!" I see the shore not too far away. "We'll make it really soon!"
The walkie talkie buzzes and I hear Katherine's voice.
"Good job everyone! You are all doing great. The meal is waiting on the beach for whoever wins! May the best team get there first! Oh and don't forget your backpacks in the kayak. I will be picking up the kayaks when you abandon them and you won't be able to recover them. Enjoy."
I start paddling with new vigor.
"Stop, stop Andy! You're throwing us off course. Keep in sync, but we can speed up our pace a little," says Brigid. I see the shore now closer than ever. I see something like a picnic table sitting on the beach. Food! I can't wait to get there. Then suddenly we bump by a hidden piece of coral rather roughly. The sharp coral rips a hole in the side of kayak right at my side.
"You guys keep paddling! I'll try to mend it quick," I say.
"We're so close!" moans Rylet.
"Work fast Andy! I need your muscle power," yells Brigid.
"Got it!" I say. I think fast, fumbling in my pack for something to patch it with. I come across my rain slicker and decide that it has to do. I press it against the hole.
"Forget it Andy! We're almost there! Just paddle and I think we'll make it," cries Brigid.
"Have it your way!" I say and keep paddling. Then we're almost at the beach. Our kayak runs into the sand sending us to screeching halt. We grab our packs and jump out. This time I'm right. We splash up the beach trying to reach dry ground. Rylet trips and falls. I grab her wrist and hoist her to her feet practically dragging her behind me. Then we're on the beach. I fall onto the ground.
"We did it!" cries Brigid. "We won!"