"Our
tribe is a lot more peaceful now that Krim is gone," Venka reports the
day after the most recent tribal council. "And we can all use a little
more peace and quiet. However, for the first time we are one elf short
compared to Ember's Wild Hunt. But I'm confident we can regain our lead
in the next few days. Does this mean I will cheer when I win the challenge
that will make my father leave the island? No, of course not. But I am
devoted to this tribe. And I want to make that very clear to whoever voted
for me last night."
Cutter: Damn, it's so worth not having Rayek here anymore. I don't even care that Leetah isn't here. Though I'll admit I care a lot more around 3 in the morning when I wake up all... bothered.As the morning dawns on the Wild Hunt, Rayek puts his floating skills to work, lifting the sunken boat out of the reef. Redlance gets to work trying to patch up the boat, which is difficult. "The wood is already dead. I can't shape it. I've told Ember this again and again. I can try to make a plug to fit the hole, or I can try to grow a new boat off the tree - but it'll take a lot of experimentation to get the right width of the wood. Not just any water-leaf will float." Ember's frustration with the broken boat mounts as the day goes by. Finally Redlance manages to shape a patch for the boat, but Nightfall and Leetah express trepidation. "I don't think it will float," Leetah says.Skot: Heh, heh. (singsong) Cutter-has-no-one-to- have-sex-with-and-we-do!
Zhantee: I don't think I've ever seen Pike and Skot this happy.
Cutter: Y-eeah, a fifteen day fast is a real bitch!
Rayek: What does Leetah know about boats?
Ember: Redlance isn't much use as a treeshaper if he can't fix our boat, and can't shape us a new boat that will stay in the water.The tribes meet for the next immunity challenge, a race to build a pyramid out of authentic Beacon shaman's staffs. As the Wild Hunt has one member extra, Ember sits out. Mender and Cutter both slow down their tribe's progress when they stop to glower at how familiar Teir appears to be with Ember. Leetah too, costs her tribe a few precious seconds when she snaps at Teir to "keep those 'beautiful hands' to yourself!" However the Wild Hunt again demonstrates its skill at puzzles and construction, and win by a wide margin. Teir waits until both tribes have reassembled to reveal what the mystery prize is.
Ember: Ice cream! Sweet, ice cold ice cream. Vanilla, chocolate, caramel ribbon, and mint chocolate chip! How did Teir know that was my favorite? A gallon of each flavour. And a bottle of chocolate syrup! We're going to have to eat it up as soon as we can, or it'll all melt on us.Pike: Dammit! They got ice cream! And chocolate syrup.
Cutter: Thank the High Ones that Pike and Skot didn't get their hands on the chocolate syrup.
The
Wild Hunt celebrates their victory with an ice cream feast that lives more
than a few elves slightly under the weather. "Skywise stuffed his face
with the caramel ribbon ice cream and then disappeared into the bushes
with a really green expression," Dewshine says. "Oh, do I have syrup on
my lip?" she then asks and proceeds to wipe it off with a flirtatious smile
and a girlish giggle.
Skywise: Oohhh, I'll never eat caramel again. But it was soooo worth it.On Day 17 the tribes meet for an immunity challenge, a complex obstacle course race. But first Teir announces he has some special news to tell everyone. "I just got word from Krim. She wasn't feeling very well after returning to Thorny Mountain and Aroree and Moonshade got her to check herself into Citadel Mound General Hospital. Turns out, she's pregnant!"Scouter: Ember is a false chief! She hogged all the mint chocolate chip! I know now that Moonshade was right. Ember doesn't have the tribe's welfare at heart.
Pike and Skot let out howls of delight and embrace each other. "Damn, no wonder she was acting so jealous," Pike says. "She went through the exact same thing when she was pregnant with Cheipar and she thought Skot and I were keeping Shenshen all to ourselves."
After congratulations to the new dads, the challenge begins in earnest. This time Leetah sits out, complaining of calluses, which would make the hand-over-hand monkey bars segment impossible for her. "Frankly I think she wants to check Teir out," Skywise says. "He and Ember seem to be getting kinda chummy, and I know Leetah's pissed. She was gunning for Mender - hell, she told him to... initiate Ember a year ago. So she probably wants to see what Ember's dumping Mender for."
The Wild Hunt assumes an early lead through the tires and the belly crawl, and another victory seems assured. But at the ten-foot-high balance beam, Rayek costs them the race.
Ember: He floated. He started to slip, and he floated himself. Teir disqualified us on the spot and the Wolfriders won by default.With a heavy heart the Wild Hunt returns to their camp. Rayek is nervous, knowing many will pounce on his mistake. "This is going to cost me. I know it. Those damned wolf-bloods will vote me right out. I'm not ready to go yet. I had better start... ugh... ingratiating myself." The next day, Ember and Nightfall disappear, presumably to go collecting shellfish. "They're talking about me," Rayek says. "I know Nightfall does what Ember tells her. I just hope Ember can see how useful I am."Rayek: Oh damn, damn. I didn't mean it. It was instinct. I couldn't help it.
Cutter: Ye-ess! Immunity! In your face... uh... daughter.
Ember: Look, Nightfall. Rayek... he messed up. I know you and Scouter and everyone want to vote him out. But he's more important alive than dead. We need to keep him. Which means we have to vote out a Wolfrider. This vote is going to be hard. We don't have an obvious dissenter like Moonshade or a sick elf like Tyleet."What can I do?" Nightfall asks the camera later. "Redlance is my lifemate. I gave him my soulname. We have a daughter and a grandchild on the way. How can I turn on him just to keep Rayek around a little longer? But Ember is right. Rayek is very useful. And Leetah, Dewshine, Scouter, they all have their own special gifts. Redlance... ooohhh, how I can say he doesn't have any talents? What am I going to do?"Nightfall: Who are you thinking of?
Ember: I think it should be Redlance.
Meanwhile the Wolfriders wonder who will be voted out. "I fear Father may suffer for his recklessness," Venka mourns. "Everyone else is so well-liked - the Wild Hunt is a family, and Rayek is an outsider." Clearbrook agrees. "It will be Rayek. He just is not a team player. We've seen it happen to Krim. I assume that's what happened to Moonshade. Unless Rayek pulls off a miracle, he's good as dead."
At tribal council, Teir questions Rayek about his failure. "I made a mistake. All I can say is, it was instinct. Has Leetah never scratched herself on not healed it without thinking? Has Redlance never found himself making flowers grow without even realizing it? I am sorry for it, but I will not apologize for my powers."
Teir: Redlance, I know you had troubles sealing the hole in the boat. Do you think that hurts your chances at staying on the island another three days?Redlance: I trust in my chief and my lifemate. I'm not afraid of tribal council.
Teir: Nightfall, do you have an idea how the vote will go? Is there a voting bloc in play?
Nightfall: I... I'm not aware of any. All I know if we all have to act in the best interests of the tribe.
Teir: Okay. It's time for you to vote.
A
few minutes later, Teir returns to read out the votes. Nightfall takes
Redlance's hand in hers, but says nothing. "Once the votes have been read,
the decision is final," Teir announces. "First vote: Redlance. Second:
Rayek. Redlance... Redlance... Rayek... Ember... Rayek. Redlance. And...
the final vote, the third person voted out of the Wild Hunt: Redlance.
I'm sorry, Redlance. You better bring me your torch."
"Forgive me, beloved," Nightfal whispers as Redlance gathers his belongings.
"The tribe has spoken," Teir rules. "Redlance, it's time for you to
leave."
| REDLANCE'S LAST WORDS |
| I guess there was a voting bloc after all. Here I thought everyone would be voting for Rayek, I never thought to ask Nightfall if there was a bloc in play. But if Nightfall thinks that Rayek is a stronger player than I, then I'll trust her judgement. I know I'm not much of a fighter. I don't have any regrets, and I don't blame anyone for what's happened. I'll see you all soon. |