The Ameruld League Competition

Max Barkat


Blah. I do not want to go back outside. I want to sleep for fifty hours, and eat jerky. When I see the adults outside, however, I know that isn't going to happen. Donning my still-wet blazer, I trot out of the house to wait for instructions.

The tarp looks like it's covering out bags; my stomach whimpers in hunger at the thought of my mom's homemade jerky. Hopefully we'll be able to access our stuff soon. There are also four tents waiting to be set up, two wooden tables, and two awkward metal shed things - what are those, anyways?

"You all look hungry," Marina says, looking at the sorry group.

"I am." I agree rather loudly. Then I stand, awaiting further instruction.

Marina Ashford/ Host

We arrive at the campsite only a few minutes before the contestants do and I take the time to make sure that everything is still in order.
The meeting sheds built years ago by the construction sites look stable enough, the suitcase packed neatly under the tarp look only slighting damp and the tents have been delivered just as they were ordered to be.

Tanner, Aster and I line up on top of an old cement slab (also built by the original settlers here as a ‘marker’ that they’d been here.) and wait for the contestants to pile into the field one by one.

I’m the first to speak but what comes out of my mouth is not actually what I had planned to say. It was more of an observation that I accidentally spoken aloud.
“You all look rather hungry.”
Max, still brightly dressed and dripping water, steps forward saying that he certainly is.
I hold back a smile eyeing the other contestants who utter agreements.
Clearing my throat a little I continue.

“Anyway, I would just like to congratulate every one of their efforts in the first challenge. You all did brilliantly and all managed to get pretty high scores. But there can only be one winning team.” I nod towards them. Indigo and Riley. “A special congratulations to you two for your effort. We will discuss prizes in a bit but for now you all get to take a break and set up camp.” I make a gesture to the tents which lie about ten metres behind us. “Each of you will get a camping ‘buddy’ and camping gear based on your times.”

I step back and Aster steps forward to explain the campsite, buddies, tents and the next challenge and I turn to Tanner and tell him to get the food ready for Indie and Riley.

Then I sigh, eyeing the other contestants.
The first team gets to get good for one night but the others will just have to make do.
I shake my head, feeling a little sorry for them all.

Spoiler

Wow, It's been a while since I got into this. I hope it wasn't too long. Anyway Aquila if you to then you can orginise the next challenge. Just post it on the DT. If you don't want to them I can probably think something up...

Spoiler

I can think of the next challenge. I'll post on the DT in a bit.

Aster

As Marina spoke, I watched the contestants. Indie and Riley were looking pretty happy with themselves, although Riley seemed to be more excited about the food than anything else. Then there's Max, soaking wet. Hopefully his camping gear would include a towel...

"Each of you will get a camping 'buddy' and camping gear based on your times," Marina said.

That was my cue. I stepped forward and addressed the kids. "Camping buddies will be sharing tents for the night," I said. "The pairs are: Indigo and Tam, Riley and Max, James and Amos, and Arrah and Kat. Your camping gear is that way" --I pointed to a pile of backpacks in the middle of the campground-- "and it's labeled with your names. Please don't steal each other's gear. Riley and Indie, you'll be having dinner in the cabin. Everyone else will have to find food on their own." The other kids' faces fell.

"The next challenge will begin tomorrow," I continued. "I'm afraid I can't tell you what it is now; that would kind of defeat the purpose...and we all want you to get a little sleep, of course. Can't have you up all night worrying about tomorrow."

Spoiler

Wow. I haven't been on YWS in a while... But I'm glad this is still going. I can still write.

Tam

We walk through the mush of the field towards the strange lights at the campsite. It doesn’t look as impressive or ‘dry’ as I first imagined it would be. But the “judges” are there so everything doesn’t seem a total waste of time. One by one we line up in front of them… kinda like we did in the beginning.

Except now we’re basically all soaking wet and dreading the next challenge that we’ve got.
Before the judges look up, I take in the rest of the “campsite.”
It’s just a smallish sized clearing, with wonky looking sheds, a few soaked wooden tables begs with tents and a tarp covering “suitcase” shaped objects.
Beside me someone’s stomach starts growling and I peer out through my hair a them.

Max.

"You all look hungry," Marina notes and he answers back immediately, “I am.”
I nod my head, wanting to get my suitcase.
Not just for the food though… I want my coat. My dry coat.
Marina starts talking again.

“Anyway, I would just like to congratulate every one of their efforts in the first challenge. You all did brilliantly and all managed to get pretty high scores. But there can only be one winning team.”
She nods towards Indie and Riley who look up a little pleased.

Damn, Lucky…

“A special congratulations to you two for your effort. We will discuss prizes in a bit but for now you all get to take a break and set up camp.” I make a gesture to the tents which lie about ten metres behind us. “Each of you will get a camping ‘buddy’ and camping gear based on your times.”

Aster steps forward into her spot.

"Camping buddies will be sharing tents for the night," He explains in his typical ‘scientist-y way, "The pairs are: Indigo and Tam, Riley and Max, James and Amos, and Arrah and Kat. Your camping gear is that way" He points towards the supposed ‘tents’.

“It’s all labelled with your names. Please don't steal each other's gear. Riley and Indie, you'll be having dinner in the cabin. Everyone else will have to find food on their own."

A sigh escapes my throat (hey, I’m not the only one!) and I shake my head looking over to Indie once the judges fall silent.

“I’m jealous,” I tell her a little drily, smiling,” but I’ll manage. Do you want to set up first? Before you get your first class dinner? Cause with my luck the tent will fall over sometime tonight. Probably when it starts raining. So… I think we need some extra security.”

She smiles a little and I turn to the judges.
So… are we allowed to set up now?”

Indie

After the ‘judges finish talking the younger girl- Tam- who was Max’s partner in the first competition turns to me.

“I’m jealous” She remarks drily on the fact that Riley and I get proper food for winning the first competition, “but I’ll manage. Do you want to set up first? Before you get your first class dinner? Cause with my luck the tent will fall over sometime tonight. Probably when it starts raining. So… I think we need some extra security.”

She turns to the judges a little impatiently, “So can we start now?”

Marina nods, setting her gaze onto Riley and me.

“After you finish setting up meet up at the ‘Cabin’ for your meal. Once again, good job.”

I nod, smiling, the gratefulness of not being on the mountain still strong, “Thank you.”

I walk over to the bags finding the one with “Indigo & Tameka” printed neatly on the side.

Carefully I jug it up, surprised at how heavy it actually is.

Is this a tent or a tee-pee?
Then I spot large squares of white painted spray of the ground with initials written inside of them.
Lodging positions, no doubt.
Finding the one that says T&I I plonk the tent down and Tam rushes over with another small bag over her shoulder.
“So where do we start?” I ask and begin unrolling all of the equipment found in our supply bag.

Spoiler

Welcome back, Ninja! Chosen is still going on by the way, lol

Max Barkat


"So, you're Riley?" I walk over to the smaller guy, who regards me with slight suspicion.

"Yeah." He nods.

I stick out a (freezing cold) hand. "Nice to meet you. Would you mind setting up the tents before you eat your delicious food?"

He grins. "Sure thing."

I haul a decent-sized tent over to the name tags awkwardly spray-painted into the sodden ground. I unravel it to reveal a bunch of poles and bolts. It's like throwing someone a Spanish book and telling them to make a tent out of it. my tired brain mumbles. Wait, what?

Back in my city, camping was fun and all, but we were urban. We had our air-conditioning and many ways to entertain ourselves without pitching a tent. I hadn't gone camping in, like, eight years; now I have no idea what to do.

Riley seems to, however. He sets to work on the tent while I watch helplessly, occasionally handing him an object I can't identify but otherwise being of no help. Well, I feel slightly stupid.

In less than ten minutes, he's done and dashes inside to eat. I take off my blazer, revealing the neon orange shirt I'm wearing underneath, and drape it over the side of the tent to dry. Kneeling down on my, well, knees, I unzip my suitcase and root around until I find what I'm looking for: A huge sack of my mom's homemade beef jerky! I open it, my stomach screaming in anticipation. There are various kinds of meat in here - beef, deer, turkey. I can't wait to try some.

Then I notice Tam. Does she have something to eat.

"Tam!" My teammate jogs over at my call.

"Yeah?" She eyes my sack curiously.

"Want some jerky?"

Tam Raven

I stand by as Indie unfolds the tent leaning over to see if there are any instructions. There aren’t.
Luckily for me, Indie seems to know a bit more about tents and how to set them up then I do. Carefully I watch and she pulls out ones of the poles and proceeds to work it through the tent, making it half stand upright.
I grab the pole of the other side and proceed to do the same thing, thinking that it probably won’t work. But then it does...
The tent almost looks half decent now.
In about 10 minutes we manage to get the tent properly set up- like some of the others have.

It even looks steady- not like it will blow over.
While Indie is just finishing tying up a few last knots I walk over to grab our suitcases, dragging them both over to our tent.

Silently I unzip mine, grabbing my heavy winter coat from the top.
Finally!

I pull off the soaked coat I am wearing, hanging it up to dry and pull myself into the other one breathing a sigh in relief.

It’s SO warm!

“Hey! Tam!” Max calls from his tent, maybe 10 metres away and I stand up leaving my suitcase on the ground.

I jog over to him, “Yeah?”

He grins holding out a sack of what looks like meat, "Want some jerky?"

At the mention of food my stomach starts to growl and I realise how hungry I actually am.

I smile taking a single slice from the bag, “Thanks.”

I look back over to my campsite to see Indie pushing the suitcases into the tent.

The other boy- Riley- stands up from where he was sitting near the tent and slowly they both walk towards the cabin.
To get there cooked meal, no doubt.

I let out a sigh, “Damn, lucky.” I mutter to myself.

Spoiler

Yeah I noticed that the other day. I even read a bit and it sounds AMAZING! I only wish I'd reserved myself a space to start off with now...
Oh, well. Maybe when you guys finish it you can start a Chosen 2 or something...
If you wan't to that is.