Chapter 57 – Fifth Challenge (Part 4)
Katie was still sitting by the tree, calmer now, but her eyes were still wet. Noah stayed close, saying nothing, watching her slowly bite into a berry. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable. It was dense. Charged with something Noah didn't know how to name.
Noah thought: I can't leave her here. Not again. Not after how she screamed. Not after how I ran.
He stood up slowly and walked over to Cody, who was packing the last berries into a folded leaf.
"I want to stay with her. Just until she feels better. She can't be alone," Noah said quietly.
Cody looked at him for a moment, as if evaluating something beyond the words. Then he shook his head.
"It's not a good idea. The forest doesn't forgive if you're alone. Not even if you're with someone you care about," Cody replied, putting on his backpack.
Noah frowned. "I don't want to bring her into the team. I don't want this to become a problem. You know how the others are."
Cody shrugged. "Then let it be my problem. If anyone has something to say, let them blame me. I don't abandon my friends. And neither should you."
Noah looked at him, surprised by the firmness. By the clarity. By how easily Cody made the hard things seem simple.
"Are you sure?" Noah asked.
"Yes. We're taking her with us. Let her stay at the base. Let her eat. Let her rest. Then we'll see what happens. But right now… we don't leave her behind," Cody said, with a decisive tone.
Owen, who had been listening while pretending to talk to an imaginary fish, suddenly stood up.
"Yes! Katie joins the squad! We've got berries, we've got fish, and now we've got heart!" Owen shouted, raising his arms.
Katie looked at them, confused. "You're taking me with you?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Of course. You're not alone. Not anymore," Noah said, with a smile that needed no explanation.
Katie stood up slowly, picked up her backpack, and walked over to them. Cody offered her a leaf with berries. Owen gave her a shiny stone as a "welcome amulet."
And so, without ceremony or speeches, the three boys and Katie began walking together toward the Screaming Gophers' base. The forest was still vast, unpredictable, and full of shadows. But now, they walked as a group. And that, as Cody had said, changed everything.
The Screaming Gophers' camp was already set up. The tents, though crooked, stood upright. The campfire crackled with effort, and Lindsay had decorated the entrance with leaves that, according to her, "inspired forest peace."
Gwen was sitting by the fire, cleaning a flashlight with an old t-shirt. Heather was reviewing her notebook, while Beth and Trent arranged backpacks. Izzy was in a yoga pose on a rock, singing something that sounded like a squirrel invocation.
Then they saw them.
Cody, Owen, Noah… and Katie.
Gwen stood up immediately. "Katie?" Gwen said, surprised.
Heather frowned. "What's going on here?" Heather asked sharply. "Cody, are you scheming something?"
Cody stepped forward, walking firmly. "We found her alone in the forest. She was lost, scared. We couldn't leave her there," Cody said, without hesitation.
Heather crossed her arms. "And you decided to bring her here? Without consulting? Without thinking about the consequences?" Heather said sarcastically.
"I thought about her. And about how the forest doesn't forgive if you're alone," Cody replied firmly.
Gwen approached, looking at Katie with concern. "Are you okay?" Gwen asked.
Katie nodded, her voice low. "I got lost. I wandered from the group. Noah found me. And then… everyone came."
Noah stayed a few steps back, watching. Noah thought: Cody is saying what I couldn't. He's defending her. For me. For her. Like he doesn't care what anyone thinks.
Heather let out a dry laugh. "And now what? Do we adopt her? Enroll her in the team? Give her a tent decorated by Lindsay?"
"I can do it! With leaves and berries. And maybe a heart-shaped stone," Lindsay said, raising her hand.
Cody turned to Heather. "If the other team loses because of this, that's their problem. We don't abandon anyone. And if someone has a problem, let them blame me," Cody said, with a calm smile.
Heather looked at him with disdain. "You're too noble for this game."
"And you're too paranoid to have friends," Cody replied, without losing his composure.
Gwen walked over to Noah. "You found her?" Gwen asked.
Noah nodded. "Yes. And I ran. Faster than Cody. Which, according to Owen, broke the laws of the universe," Noah said, with a shy smile.
"And why did you do it?" Gwen asked.
Noah lowered his gaze. "Because I cared. And because I didn't want her to feel alone."
Gwen looked at him with a mix of surprise and tenderness. "That was… unexpected. But sweet."
Owen approached Katie, offering her a berry. "Welcome to camp! We've got food, fire, and a tent that'll probably collapse if you breathe too hard. But it's ours," Owen said enthusiastically.
Katie smiled. "Thanks. All of you."
Heather walked away, muttering something about "emotional betrayal" and "soft strategies." Gwen watched her calmly, then returned to the others.
The group settled in again. The tents were still crooked. The fire still struggled to stay alive. But now, there was a new energy. A new member. And a decision that, even if not everyone agreed with, no one could ignore.
The fire crackled with energy. Izzy had managed to light it using dry berries, a stone, and what she called "squirrel spiritual force." Owen, wearing a giant leaf as an apron, stirred the fish on an improvised grill made from branches and a rusty pan lid.
"This one's almost ready! I call it 'Fishino on Fire'!" Owen said, flipping the fish with a stick.
Cody sliced berries with precision, placing them on leaves like gourmet garnish. "If this doesn't impress Chris, at least we get points for presentation," Cody said, while Izzy decorated the edges with petals.
Izzy danced around the fire. "Dinner is blessed! By the god of chaos and fast digestion!" Izzy said, tossing a berry into the air.
Noah sat a few feet away, next to Katie, who looked much calmer now. She ate slowly, legs crossed, gaze serene. Noah didn't say much, but every so often he handed her another leaf of berries or pointed out a star in the sky.
Noah thought: Cody didn't just help me. He defended her for me. And now he's cooking like this is a family dinner. How does he make everything seem so easy?
Gwen walked over to Cody, sitting beside him as he served the last pieces of fish.
"So now we're rescuers?" Gwen said, smiling.
"We just do what needs to be done. And if that includes cooking fish with Owen and decorating with Izzy, then… so be it," Cody said, handing her a leaf of food.
Gwen looked at him tenderly. "I like when you do things like this. When you're not competing. Just… being you."
Cody shrugged. "Sometimes I forget this isn't just a game. It's people. It's moments like this."
—
A few meters away, Trent watched them in silence. His food was untouched. His gaze fixed on Gwen.
Trent thought: She doesn't look at me the same anymore. And him… he does everything right. Even cooking.
Lindsay sat next to Trent, offering him a berry. "Want one? It tastes like hope," Lindsay said with a smile.
Trent just nodded, saying nothing.
While the Screaming Gophers dined under the stars, the other group was living a very different night.
The campfire wouldn't light. The backpacks were empty. And Katie, their teammate, was still missing.
Courtney paced in circles, arms crossed and wearing the face of someone about to file a formal complaint with the universe.
"This is unacceptable. We have no food. No fire. And Katie's missing. Anyone else think this is a leadership failure?" Courtney said, glaring at Duncan.
Duncan, sitting on a rock, tossed pebbles into the air. "Maybe if you stopped yelling at the fire, it would light itself," Duncan said without looking up.
"I'm trying to keep us alive!" Courtney shouted.
"And I'm trying not to lose my patience. Do you know how hard that is without food?" Duncan replied.
Bridgette tried to calm things down. "Maybe we should look for more berries. Or at least leaves that don't taste like cardboard."
Geoff stood up. "I can look! I've got a nose for fruit! Well… for juice. But it's similar."
Courtney stopped him. "No! No one moves until we know where Katie is. We're not losing another member."
Duncan stood up, annoyed. "And what do you suggest? That we sit here and starve while you give speeches?"
"I suggest you act like part of the team!" Courtney yelled.
"And I suggest you relax before the fire lights out of fear!" Duncan shot back.
The group fell silent. The tension was thick. Hunger, exhaustion, and worry over Katie had turned the camp into a pressure cooker.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, Cody was serving fish, Gwen was smiling, Noah was thinking about his feelings, and Katie was eating, surrounded by friends.
The night at the Screaming Gophers' camp had become warm and almost domestic. The fire crackled steadily, and the group gathered around it like an improvised family. Owen, holding a leaf of fish and smiling like an excited child, stood up as if about to give a speech.
"My grandpa was a hunter. Of bears. With rifles. And a mustache. And a voice that made trees tremble," Owen said solemnly.
Gwen raised an eyebrow. "He hunted bears? Really?"
"Yes! One time he caught one so big he thought it was furniture. He called it 'the furry armchair.' But then the bear moved and chased him for three kilometers," Owen said, eyes shining.
"And he survived?" Lindsay asked, mouth agape.
"Of course! He roared back. My grandpa said if a bear roars at you, you roar louder. That's how you earn respect in the forest!" Owen shouted, then let out a roar that made the leaves rustle.
"RAAAAAAAARGH!"
Cody laughed. "That was… unexpected. And probably illegal in some national parks," he said, serving more berries.
Noah settled next to Katie, watching Owen with a mix of awe and resignation.
Noah thought: If that roar attracts a real bear, I'm hiding behind Cody.
Izzy, who had been silent through the whole story, slipped into the shadows unnoticed. Cody saw her disappear behind the tents and thought: When Izzy moves like that, something's about to happen. And it won't be quiet.
Minutes later, just as Owen was mimicking a rifle sound with his mouth, a much louder roar tore through the air.
"RAAAAAAAARGH!"
The girls screamed in unison. Gwen, Lindsay, and Beth dove behind Cody as if he were a human shield.
"What was that?!" Lindsay screamed, clinging to Gwen.
Noah jumped up, stepping in front of Katie. "Back. If it's a bear, I'll throw sarcasm at it until it retreats," Noah said seriously.
Owen ran in circles, flailing his arms. "Grandpa was right! Bears have spirit! And hunger! And a sense of humor!"
From the bushes emerged a furry figure, with fake claws and a bear mask that looked like it came from a post-apocalyptic costume shop.
"I am the Avenging Bear! And I've come for your berries!" Izzy shouted in a deep, theatrical voice.
Gwen hid behind Cody, caught between fear and resignation.
Katie clung to Noah's arm, while Beth covered her eyes with a leaf.
Cody stepped forward, unafraid, smiling. "Izzy… that's enough. The bear can retreat. The camp is officially scared," Cody said, arms crossed.
Izzy stopped, looked around, then burst out laughing. "It worked! It worked better than the giant squirrel costume!" she said, pulling off the mask.
Owen froze. "Izzy! You're the bear! That was incredible! I almost jumped into the lake! And I can't even swim!"
Gwen collapsed onto a blanket. "I'm going to need forest therapy after this," she sighed.
"And I want a photo with the bear! To show my grandpa I inherited the roar!" Owen shouted, hugging Izzy.
Cody sat back down, still laughing. "Well, at least now we know the bear has no teeth. Just a sense of humor."
Izzy raised the mask like a trophy. "And now, the bear returns to its cave! But it'll be back when you least expect it!"
—
The group relaxed again. Laughter filled the air. And though the scare had been real, so was the joy of being together. In the middle of the forest, with stories, food, and a fake bear, the camp felt more united than ever.
The campfire was still burning, but the mood had shifted. Gwen, Lindsay, and Beth sat with arms crossed, staring at Izzy as if she'd just summoned a forest curse.
"That wasn't funny. It was borderline traumatic," said Gwen, brushing leaves out of her hair.
"I thought it was a real bear! I was already planning my will on tree leaves!" said Lindsay, still clutching a blanket.
Beth said nothing, but her look toward Izzy suggested she was reconsidering her definition of friendship.
Izzy, meanwhile, was thrilled. Sitting on a rock with the bear mask on her head like a crown, she laughed as if she'd just won an award.
"It was art! Theater! An immersive experience!" said Izzy, while Owen applauded enthusiastically.
"It was epic! I ran like my pants were on fire! And I don't even wear tight pants!" said Owen, laughing.
Cody laughed too, though more controlled. "Well, at least no one got hurt. And now we know Izzy has a talent for improvised horror," said Cody, offering berries as a symbolic apology.
Noah, sitting next to Katie, watched it all with one eyebrow raised.
Noah thought: This is the closest we've come to a horror movie. And the furthest from sanity.
Confessionals:
Gwen (arms crossed):
"Izzy dressed as a bear? In the middle of the forest? After a story about hunters? No. Just no. If she does that again, next time I'll be the bear."
Lindsay (with a leaf on her head):
"I thought it was the end. I saw my life flash before my eyes. And in it were lots of scenes with Cody and glitter. I don't know what that means, but it was intense."
Beth (serious tone):
"I respect art. But this was more like… chaos with plush. I'm not ready for another scare. I need a week at a spa. Or at least a nap without roars."
Izzy (wearing the mask):
"It was perfect! Owen's roar, Gwen's fear, Lindsay's jump! Everything went just like in my mind! Except no one threw berries at me. That was disappointing."
Owen (excited):
"My roar inspired a masterpiece! My grandpa would be proud! Though he hunted real bears. I just hug them. And invite them to dinner!"
Cody (calm):
"It was madness. But it was also… Izzy. And if you don't have room for chaos in this camp, you're on the wrong show."
Noah (looking at the camera, resigned):
"A fake bear? A hunter story? People running and screaming? This is exactly what I expected. And still, I'm surprised."
Katie (smiling shyly):
"I thought it was real. But then I saw Noah in front of me, like a human shield. And… I don't know. I felt safe. Even with the bear."
The night had returned to calm after the "Izzy bear" scare. The fire was still burning, the tents were standing, and the group began to relax. Gwen was sketching on a leaf, Lindsay slept hugging her backpack, Owen snored with tribal rhythm, and Cody watched the sky with a quiet smile.
Then came the crunch.
Trent, who was near the fire, stood up with a tired expression. "Izzy's bear again?" said Trent, rolling his eyes.
From the forest emerged a furry figure. Big. Very big.
"Okay, Izzy, we get it. The costume was fun. You can come out now," said Trent, walking forward confidently.
The figure didn't respond. It just kept moving.
"Izzy?" Trent repeated, stopping.
And then he saw it.
The teeth. Huge. Real. The breath. The low growl. The slow but deliberate movement.
[Imagine the following scenes with Evanescence – "Bring Me To Life" playing in the background]
Trent froze. "THAT'S NOT IZZY!" he screamed, before backing away… and, unable to help it, wetting himself.
The group jumped to their feet. Gwen screamed. Lindsay dove behind Cody. Beth tripped over a stake. Owen woke up and shouted, "The furry armchair is back!" before running in circles. Izzy, from her tent, yelled, "It wasn't me this time!"
Heather stood as if the forest itself had commanded her. "TO THE TREES! RUN! CLIMB NOW!" she shouted, pointing to the nearest trunks.
The group scattered like leaves in the wind. Gwen climbed with agility. Lindsay needed help. Beth clung to a branch like it was her salvation. Owen tried to climb headfirst. Izzy climbed like she was part of the tree.
Cody moved among them, helping those who couldn't. "Come on, Lindsay. Hold tight. Owen, don't use your face to climb. Trent, it's over, but don't look down," Cody said firmly.
Noah grabbed Katie's hand and helped her up. "If this were a movie, we'd already be in the credits," said Noah, pushing Katie to a safe branch.
Finally, everyone was up. On different branches, in different trees, but together. The bear remained below, sniffing the camp, moving slowly, as if it knew it had triggered a vertical stampede.
Heather settled on a high branch, hair disheveled and gaze furious. "This is ridiculous. This is Total Drama. Not National Geographic," said Heather, brushing a leaf off her shoulder.
Cody sat on a thick branch, breathing deeply. "At least we're alive. And elevated. Which is technically an advantage," said Cody, watching the bear.
Noah, from a nearby branch, looked at him.
Noah thought: Cody doesn't just run. Doesn't just cook. He climbs and saves people too. Is there anything he doesn't do well?
And then Noah moved closer. Not out of sarcasm. Not out of habit. But because, for the first time, he wanted to know what to do.
The camp was behind them. From the treetops, the Screaming Gophers watched the real bear still roaming among the tents, sniffing backpacks, nudging rocks, and growling with a calm that was scarier than any attack.
Heather, perched on a high branch, clung with one hand while trying to keep her hair in order with the other. "This is absurd. Absurd! I didn't come here to climb trees like a nervous squirrel!" Heather said, glaring down.
"Nervous squirrels survive! I saw it in a documentary!" Izzy shouted from another branch, hanging upside down like part of the foliage.
Gwen sat cross-legged on a thick branch, squinting at the bear. "It doesn't seem in a hurry. Or hungry. Just curious. Which is worse," said Gwen, while Lindsay clung to her arm.
"What if it wants to hug us? Like Owen with the fish?" asked Lindsay, trembling.
"If it wants to hug us, it better bring a letter of introduction and keep a safe distance," Gwen replied.
Owen, on a lower branch, tried to stay still. "My grandpa said bears respect those who don't smell like fear! But I smell like fear! And fish! And berries! I'm an emotional buffet!" Owen shouted, covering himself with a leaf.
Beth, higher up, murmured calculations about how long she could stay still. Trent, still trembling, said nothing. He just stared at the bear with wide, wet eyes.
Cody was on a central branch, with a good view of the camp and the group. He watched the bear, analyzed its movements, and considered options. Nothing seemed safe. Nothing seemed easy.
Then Noah climbed carefully to join him.
"Do you have a plan?" Noah asked, no sarcasm. Just a quiet, serious voice.
Cody looked at him. "I'm thinking. We can't go down. We can't run. And we can't scream. So… yes, I'm working on a plan. But I need time."
Noah nodded. "I never thought I'd say this, but… I'm glad you're here. Not because of the bear. Because of us."
Cody smiled. "Thanks. Though I'd prefer the bear wasn't here. And that you told me that in a less… vertical situation."
Katie, from a nearby branch, watched Noah with a mix of fear and tenderness. Gwen looked at Cody, as if waiting for him to solve everything. Heather kept muttering curses. Izzy hummed a song about bears and trees. Owen tried to make himself invisible behind a branch.
—
The bear stopped in front of the campfire. It sniffed the air. Growled. Then sat down. As if it were waiting for something.
Cody frowned. "It's watching us. It's not lost. It's comfortable. And that… that I don't like."
Noah shifted on the branch. "So what do we do?"
Cody took a deep breath. "We wait. We watch. And when it moves… we act."
The group fell silent. The fire still burned. The bear was still there. And high up in the trees, the Screaming Gophers waited. United. Afraid. But together.
Night had wrapped the camp in tense silence. From the treetops, the Screaming Gophers watched the bear still prowling among the tents, sniffing backpacks, nudging branches, and growling with a calm that chilled the blood.
Heather adjusted herself on a high branch, muttering that this was beneath her status. Gwen kept her eyes fixed on the ground, calculating escape routes that didn't exist. Lindsay clung to the branch like it was her only lifeline.
Then came the crack.
A dry, brutal sound that split the air like a warning.
"CRACK!"
The branch holding Heather, Lindsay, and Gwen snapped without warning. The combined weight, nervous movement, and bad luck aligned. The three fell to the ground in a whirlwind of leaves, screams, and desperation.
"AAAAAAAHHH!"
The impact was hard. Lindsay rolled across the dirt, Gwen landed on her back, and Heather screamed in terror—though it sounded more outraged than hurt.
The bear turned immediately. It roared. Loud. Deep. Real. Its eyes locked onto them like it had just found what it was looking for.
The girls scrambled backward, trembling. Heather screamed uncontrollably, "This can't be happening!" Lindsay cried, "I don't want to be food!" Gwen tried to stand, but fear paralyzed her.
From a nearby branch, Noah froze. His gaze dropped to the ground, where the three were exposed. The bear's roar echoed in his chest like a direct threat.
Noah thought: This isn't a joke. This isn't a challenge. This is real danger.
Then he turned his head. He looked for Cody.
Cody was already moving.
In less than a second, he reached for his leg. Beneath his pants, hidden in an improvised sheath, was the knife he'd kept since the start of camp. He'd never shown it. Never used it. But now, there was no time for secrets.
With a precise motion, he pulled it out. The metal gleamed in the firelight. It wasn't large. It wasn't intimidating. But in his hands, it was enough.
His eyes met Noah's. No words. Just urgency.
Cody gave a faint smile. Not mocking. Not exaggerated bravery. A smile of confidence. Of resolve.
"Take care of them," Cody said firmly.
And without waiting for a reply, he jumped.
Cody launched from the branch like the tree was a diving platform. His body descended in a perfect arc, straight toward the bear. The knife in his hand gleamed like a promise.
The bear roared just as Cody landed on it.
With brutal precision, Cody drove the knife into one of its eyes. The animal's roar turned into a scream of pain. Its body thrashed violently, trying to break free.
"Get up the tree! Now!" Cody shouted, wrestling with the creature.
The girls reacted. Gwen got up first, helping Lindsay. Heather, still shaking, crawled toward the nearest trunk. Noah dropped from his branch to cover them, guiding them to the tree's base.
The bear writhed, furious. Cody held on, but the animal's strength was overwhelming. The knife remained lodged, but the bear twisted violently, flinging Cody through the air.
Cody hit the ground with a hard thud, rolling across the dirt. The air left his lungs for a moment, but he got up. Fast. Steady. Facing the bear.
His clothes were torn. His arm was bleeding. But his gaze didn't waver.
The bear stared at him. One eye bleeding. The other, full of rage.
From above, Izzy shouted, "Cody's crazy! But he's the crazy we need!"
Owen flailed his arms, "Don't die! Don't die! Don't die!"
Gwen, from the tree base, screamed, "Cody, come! Climb!"
But Cody didn't move. Not yet.
The bear roared again. Louder. Closer.
And Cody… stood his ground.
—