The gray clouds crept along over the Mataulanga sky, it was monsoon season in Tokelau, and everyone on the Mataulanga tribe knew it. The camp didn’t seem any different without Nur, as most of them never saw her, or ever spoke to her. Everyone on the Mataulanga tribe was relieved it was an easy vote.

Sherry an early riser was anxious to begin the new day. She was excited to be away from the cold weather in Missouri, and grateful she left for the trip on the most hectic time in her job. Things were looking good for her, and she definitely found her own place in the tribe. “Right now I’m trying to make Robert and John our ‘leaders’ for the tribe. I think as long as I sit back and let things happen, things will work out for me.”

Atticus arose from the shelter, glad Nur was targeted and departed last night, and not him. Atticus felt like he got along with his tribemates, but the alliance issue still remained at large for Atticus. “It’s day seven and yet the word alliance is almost like a forbidden word here. I know it may seem like I’m being naïve, but no one has even spoken about it. All we do is have normal conversations, and all it seems like is that people don’t want to play the game.” Atticus was annoyed by his tribemates, agitated by the fact no one has approached him, and Atticus would never approach them.

Alex was still asleep in the Tamaseko shelter but was soon awaken by Joe who was eager to talk.

“Hey Alex!” Joe grinned, shaking Alex’s arm for him to get up.

Alex moaned but put on a smile, “Hey Joe… What’s up?” Alex asked, trying to hide his aggravation.

“Nothing much, I was wondering who do you think should go next tribal council?”

Stunned by the sudden question Alex was on the verge of telling Joe to go away, but bite his tongue, “Oh just anyone who isn’t participating at camp and isn’t an asset at challenges.” Alex answered putting his head back on his head and went back to sleep. “Joe’s so annoying, he really should just like die.” Alex spoke to the camera annoyed, for since Joe woke him up, he couldn’t go back to sleep.

Things weren’t working out too well for Rich as well, he had currently cached the flu, and was under the weather. “Right now I’m really sick.” Rich commented coughing into his hand, “But it doesn’t matter any bit, I’m still in control, and that’s all the really matters.”

“We’ve got treemail!” Mike D. announced walking back to camp.

“This early?” Mike G. asked surprised, he had just woke up it was barely even into the morning.

“Yup.” Mike D. replied, unrolling the scroll, he recited the treemail,

And the game of Survivor was forever changed for both tribes.

Both the Tamaseko and Mataulanga tribes walked into the early mist surrounding challenge beach, there was what seemed to be a calmness over the beach. Birds flying up above, the sounds of the waves crashing echoing all around. “Come on in guys.” Paul welcomed the fourteen survivors, who all looked groggy for the morning challenge. “As you can tell, Nur was voted off at last nights tribal council.” The Mataulanga tribe nodded their head in agreement, some laughing about her exit in the game. “And now there are fourteen of you,” Paul continued as a brisk cold wind came across the area, “And now the game as you know it has changed. Both tribes will be living together on one beach – but all will attend tribal council. Tribal immunity will still be played, and whatever tribe wins will be safe from the vote, leaving the opposite tribe vulnerable.”

“So everyone votes?” Joe asked, trying to reassure of the new twist.

“Yes, everyone votes, even the losing and winning tribe.”

“Whoa, that’s crazy.” Atticus spoke, shocked by the new twist.

“Here is your new campsite, where you will be living. All your personal items and rewards will be transferred over to your new camp. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” Paul instructed the castaways, and then walked off.

Both the Mataulanga and Tamaseko tribe walked in separate groups, as they intermingled with one another, trying to seize eachother down, and Mike D. couldn’t be anymore happier. “This twist is great!” Mike D. spoke to the camera enthusiastically, “I feel pretty confident that they will target annoying little Joe, since all he does is talk. This only puts me in a bigger position of power and I’m pretty overjoyed.” Mike D. grinned, extremely happy with his place in the tribe.

Robert and Chris decided to go collect bamboo for the new shelter, both compared notes about their tribes.

“So you guys voted off Nur?” Chris asked, using the machete provided to cut down the bamboo.

“Yeah, she was never doing anything, no talking, no helping, nothing.”

“Well that’s always a plus.” Chris laughed, as he picked up the bamboo he chopped down. He grabbed six other pieces and put them in a bundle.

“You guys voted out Logan, correct?” Robert asked, grabbing the other end of the bamboo bundle, as both walked back towards camp.

“Yeah, most of us felt like he was a dictator, trying to create a dominate alliance.”

“Really? That early?” Robert was surprised of the talk of alliances so early in the game at Tamaseko, for he thought there had been none.

“We were surprised too, that’s why we voted him out.” Chris dropped the bamboo bundle near the site of the new camp, and went and collected more, with Robert right behind him. “So from now on, does the immune tribe also vote at tribal council?” Chris asked, a little confused about the twist.

“I think so, I’m not sure.”

“Damn, that’s pretty harsh then.” Pausing, Chris stopped walking, and pulled himself and Robert out of sight so no one was watching. “I know this is pretty early, but I was wondering if you’d consider a quid pro quo?”

“Quid prop quo?”

“A ‘something for something’ kind of deal.” Chris whispered making sure no one was around.

“What do you mean? Like we won’t vote eachother out or something?” Robert asked confused by what Chris wanted.

“Exactly but more then that.” Chris took a small breath and continued, “Let’s say if my tribe wins next I will make sure you are not a target, or more importantly get voted off, and vice versa.”

“Sure.” Robert smiled, “Sounds good to me.”

Pawl, Robert, and Sherry were all helping construct the shelter, as they sized down the Tamaseko tribe.

“They all seem like nice people.” Sherry commented tying a rope around two bamboo poles, “But I know its all an act.”

“I agree,” Robert spoke, whipping the sweat off his forehead with the side of his arm, “They all think were so stupid, when were not.” Both Pawl and Sherry laughed at this, as they continued to construct the bottom of the shelter. “I definitely think us three should stick together though, we all good do some damage.” Robert suggested sitting down on the ground.

“I agree one hundred percent,” Sherry agreed smiling, “What about you Pawl?”

“Of course! Sounds great.” Pawl grinned, “I’m going to go and try and start a fire.” He saw Ryan lying down doing nothing, and decided to go and talk to him.

“It kinda scares me how close Ryan and Pawl are.” Robert whispered to Sherry. Sherry nodded her head in agreement and went back to work.

“Hey Ryan!” Pawl shouted, walking over to Ryan. Ryan remained motionless while he laid down in the sand. Looking up, Ryan smiled.

“Hey Pawl, what’s up?”

“Nothing much, look I probably shouldn’t stay long, but I think me and you need to be aligned.” Pawl spoke quickly, catching Ryan off guard.

“Oh Okay, sounds good.” Ryan said, putting his head back on the sand.

“I have too many alliances right now.” Pawl moaned to the camera, his head in his hands. “And they all came out of nowhere! First there is my tribe, I have an alliance with Sherry and Robert, and one with Ryan. I don’t think anyone notices how close Ryan and I are, which is perfect. Finally I have a final four alliance with the Tamaseko tribe, Mike D., Mike G. and Joe.” Pawl paused thinking everything through. “This means I’m going to have to start lying.”

Alex and Rich were out fishing along the rocks of the island, as Alex talked dirt about everyone on both tribes.

“Atticus is really fake, and what kind of name is Atticus?” Alex asked, throwing out a fishing line.

“I agree! Why would anyone name their poor baby Atticus?” Rich asked laughing, as he moved his fishing pole around.

“Don’t even get me started about Sherry. She’s like what one hundred? Why isn’t she in a retirement home?” Alex snickered, while Rich laughed out loud, but careful not to say anything. “Then Pawl spells his name with a-w, what the fuck? That’s so ugly!”

Rich laughed again, “Yeah, it doesn’t even sound right.”

“Ryan’s just lazy, doesn’t do anything, and get on my nerves.”

“I know!” Rich spoke, dipping his feet into the water, “It does get on your nerves after awhile. He’s so boring too.”

“Oh and Mike D., its like Jesus loves everyone, except you, you bastard.” Alex and Rich now laughed harder, for they both equally disliked Mike D. “Rich and I are extremely close, just on the fact we can talk about anything.” Alex grinned, remembering the conversation he just had, “I definitely trust him and he trusts me, and that’s great.”

By the next few hours, Sherry, Robert, Pawl, and Mike D. who helped in later all had completed a huge shelter, big enough for fourteen people to sleep in, comfortably. As night began to fall, Atticus suggested a deal to his tribe to offer to Tamaseko.

“I say we offer them a deal if we lose they vote off our weakest, and if they lose we vote off their weakest.” Atticus suggested talking to John, Robert, and Sherry.

“I like it.” Sherry smiled taking a bite of the newly caught fish.

“Me too.” John nodded his head in agreement. “So should we go ask them?”

“Yeah, I’ll go do it.” Robert got up and went to go talk to Mike D, Mike G. and Joe who were all resting in the shelter. “Hey Guys.”

“Hey Robert,” Mike D. spoke getting up, stretching his arms. “What’s up?”

“Nothing really,” Robert paused, making sure all three of them were listening, “My tribe and I were wondering if we could just make some sort of deal, like if we happen to lose tomorrow, you’ll vote off our weakest, and if you happen to lose tomorrow, we’ll vote off your weakest.”

Mike D. quickly shot a glance and Mike G. who smiled and nodded his head. “Sounds good to me, how about you guys?”

Both Mike G. and Joe muttered a yes, as Mike D. patted Robert on the back. “Alright its settled then, we’ll vote off your weakest, and you’ll vote of ours.”

“I don’t see why Atticus was so keen on getting that deal made,” John spoke, sitting on a rock away from the tribe, “I mean he is one of our weakest, so I don’t see how this will help him. He definitely doesn’t bring anything to Mataulanga.”

“It was my idea to create a deal with the other tribe, just a little agreement.” Atticus smiled, but a little uneasy on the whole idea. “I’m eighty percent sure they’ll go on it, but there’s always that doubt in the back of my head. Hopefully they’ll stay true to their word.

Both the Mataulanga and Tamaseko tribes slept in, making sure to have enough energy for the immunity challenge. John was sitting alone by the fire, making sure no one was around while he was giving a confessional. “The twist has really put a wrench into a lot of people’s plans, which is great. I had no alliances at Mataulanga, and I have none now, but to see people scramble around not knowing what to do, I love it.” John grinned slyly at the camera continuing, “People are frantic, people are scattered, and people’s true colors will show. It’s all a matter of time.”

Mike D. and Mike G. were both collecting fruit for the morning’s breakfast, and both discussed future plans for strategy.

“Pawl offered me a deal that sounded too good to be true.” Mike D. spoke, walking behind Mike G.

“What was it?” Mike G. asked jumping on a nearby tree to try and collect the coconuts on top.

“He wanted a six-person alliance,” Mike D. passed Mike G. the machete to try and chop the coconuts down. “Three people from each tribe, and I told him I had two people I could trust, but didn’t reveal who they were. I think a six-person alliance is brilliant, especially with both tribes going to tribal council.”

“Do you think we can trust him?” Mike G. jumped down from the top of the tree, four coconuts under his arm.

“I’d like to believe so, he also told me Sherry and Rob were his two biggest allies, so if he screws me over, you guys know who to target.”

“Yeah.”

“So that would be stupid,” Mike D. laughed, “Especially since we can control the game. We just let Rich on the deal, and we have the majority.” Mike D. patted Mike G. on the back, reassuring him. “Mike G. is my biggest ally in the game.” Mike D. confessed, “I believe he and I will be in the final two together, and everything will be good.”

Sherry gathered everyone around to read the morning’s treemail, anxious to go to the challenge.

“Come in guys,” Paul shouted as the Mataulanga and Tamaseko tribes walked in as one. “Welcome to your third immunity challenge. First off, I need you to both elect a leader from your tribe to represent you.” The Mataulanga and Tamaseko tribes got into group huddles discussing their choices. Both Robert for Mataulanga and Mike G. from Tamaseko stepped forward. “Alright, Robert and Mike G. will be leading their tribes. Behind me is a field of dirt mounds, in one of those dirt mounds is a red flag, and the first tribe to find it will win immunity. We will go in turns, as each tribe will make one step, based on the decision of their leader. It will be a slow challenge; it will test patience, strategy, and basically pure luck. Everyone ready?” All tribes nodded in agreement, wanting to get the challenge over for the sun was rising on the sky over Tokelau, and they certainly didn’t want to be stuck in the middle of a field during the hottest part of the day.

Mike G. and the rest of the Tamaseko tribe were situated in the right bottom corner of the field, while Robert and the Mataulanga tribe decided to be on the bottom left corner of the field. “Because Mataulanga lost the last immunity challenge, they will go first.”

Robert stepped in a diagonal direction, the Mataulanga tribe right behind. He dug through the dirt mound, and found nothing.

Mike G. also led the Tamaseko tribe in a diagonal direction, and found nothing.

After twenty minutes of searching, both Mike G. and Robert were in the middle of the field, about to cross over their paths. “I’ll give you a hint – one of you is close.”

“Gee Paul, thanks.” Robert joked sarcastically, the hint definitely made him more nervous. Robert decided to go down from where he was, into a clear open space, which hadn’t been touched. Frantically digging through another pile of dirt, his hands black from all of it, he found yet again, nothing.

Mike G. followed Robert, certain the flag was down there, and the Tamaseko followed, giving advice on which direction he should go next. Getting on his knees and digging, Mike G. also found nothing.

The sun was directly above everyone’s head, as everyone was dripping with sweat. After five more steps both Mike G. and Robert had found nothing. Mike G. moved to the left, his buff drenched in sweat, and his face red from the heat. He reached to the dirt and dug, once more, and there it was, three steps away from Robert.

“Mataulanga wins immunity for the second time in a row!” Paul shouted as the Mataulanga tribe celebrated, Mike G. pumping his fists in the air.

“I’ll see you all tomorrow at Tribal Council, good luck.” Paul said handing the immunity idol to the joyous Mataulanga tribe, as Robert kicked the ground in anger, being so close to winning.

Both the Mataulanga and Tamaseko tribes were confused with the mood around camp, some didn’t know weather to celebrate, or too be upset. Never the less, strategizing was still going on. Pawl had called the Mataulanga tribe to the shelter to discuss voting, everyone was there, except for Austin.

Pawl sat on the opposite end in the sand facing the five other Mataulanga tribemates. “It has come to my attention that you seem all want to vote me out. Well, if that’s what you all want, I will leave gracefully. I personally am going to vote for Austin. I feel he hasn’t made any attempt to get to know me, or anyone else, and he really aren’t that big of an asset. That is what I am going to offer to you all, and if you still vote me out, what can I say? At least I know I tried.” Pawl smiled, but little did he know that Austin was right behind him.

“Well Pawl, I am sorry I did not chase you around to meet you, and that you feel the need to vote for me. If that’s how you feel, then so be it.” Austin smiled, walking away. The rest of the Mataulanga tribe was left in a daze of confusion, on what to do.

Josh and Chris had decided to go collect water from the water hole and catch up on voting strategy.

“Who do you think will go?” Josh asked, caring one bucket with his right arm, his canteen in his left.

“Pawl I think, he’s the weakest, and I guess there is some kind of deal to vote out the weakest?” Chris asked, sipping out of his canteen.

“I think so, I heard Pawl begged for his life and tried to get Austin votes. But Austin found out about it.”

“Really?” Chris asked, laughing. “I think that sealed Pawl’s fate.”

Pawl was not giving up though; he went to go talk to Joe about the upcoming vote.

“I just finished having a good chat with Mike D.” Pawl spoke walking up to Joe who was currently playing around in the water.

“Okay.” Joe said, placing his head back in the water, rubbing his head.

“He said he may be able to take the target off me, and put it on Austin. But he wanted your approval as well.” Pawl passed making sure Joe was listening to him. “Apparently your tribe is really close.”

“Yeah, we are.” Joe smiled. “Is yours?”

“Yes, we have a few snags here and there. I think I pissed Austin off though. I said I was going to vote for him just to save myself, and he wasn’t happy, naturally.”

“Yes, naturally.” Joe nodded his head in agreement.

“So who are you voting again?” Joe asked, confused.

“Austin, Mike and Robert are doing so too.”

“I think I’ll vote for him too then.”

Both tribes decided to go to bed early, and Austin heard about the plot to vote him out. He decided first thing in the morning, he’d speak out about it, and he wasn’t going down without a fight.

Austin was up first the next morning, sitting by the fire boiling rice for breakfast. As people got up, he asked each one of them to stay in the shelter for he had something important to say. Once everyone got up, he addressed them all.

“Hey there. I would just like to address the ‘puppet masters’ or so they think,” Austin laughed at himself shaking his head, “in the game.” He paced back and forth, as everyone looked confused. “I have heard of several occasions from people who don’t even know me, are trying to attack me. I finally meet with this person, and they say they’ve heard the same thing.” He paused, putting his finger on his chin. “Hmm, interesting.”

“Sounds like some people here have nothing better to do then stir the shit. Well guess what? Some of us have a couple of brain cells and aren’t engaged in childishness and can figure out the truth.” Pausing again for more drama, “Truth is… The only animosity here is the animosity started by the person who started this load of horsecrap. The two of us will find out who you are, and you will be gone from the game. Wait, I can’t reveal my secrets can I?” Austin asked, laughing again. “Game on!” He shouted and stood there, everyone in silence.

“Uh…Oh,” Sherry spoke innocently, “Drama Alert.”

Chris finally spoke out, annoyed by the sudden outburst. “The only person who is stirring the shit here is you, with your little puppet speech.”

“Nope! Look again.” Austin grinned pointing at Chris. “You must not be in the clique of your tribe that knows everything. Who’d you piss off to be left out?” Austin grinned sarcastically, “’Cause they are really enjoying this. I’m sure they are just getting the bestest of chuckles out of this.”

“Maybe I am missing out on some clique in my tribe,” Chris spoke back, getting up walking closer to Austin, “But I cannot stand arrogant assholes like you who make a huge controversial speech in front of everyone. You must be that confident that everything will work out for you, huh?”

Austin walked towards Chris getting in his face, “Note to self – Me thinks he protests too much. Maybe he is the guilty party? He should go now!”

“What the heck is going on?” Rich asked, but knew to stay out of this.

“Shut the fuck up!” Chris yelled back at Austin, he was furious now. “I say what I want to say, whether you like it or not, and you tend to have the same exact decency, so I wouldn’t talk. And I’m sorry I can’t go next, I’m immune!” Chris turned to the rest of the Mataulanga and Tamaseko tribes who haven’t moved, just watching the fight. “I am really sorry guys, but I can’t take his bullshit.”

“Next as in after this vote.” Austin winked at Chris. “You will not always be immune. Obviously your tribe hates you as much as I do if they are leaving you blinded on what is going on. I can’t imagine why they would leave you out of all this fun. I’m having fun, how about you?”

“Austin…” Robert spoke out, “lay off, this is the last thing we need.”

Austin rolled his eyes, “Okay since evidentially I have hurt everyone’s fragile feelings, ‘I apologize’.” Austin sarcastically said making his fingers into quotation marks. “Just can’t figure out why someone would get in a game like this if they can’t handle it. If you have any balls at all, pull up a chair and play an adult’s game.”

“Austin, please don’t say something if you don’t mean it.” Mike G. sarcastically smiled walking by him.

“Who are you?” Austin asked, “The words and meanings police?”

Atticus stood up and walked over to Austin, “Well Austin thanks for trying to oust the ‘clique’. I’m sure you pulled all the attention all away from you, and you are saved!” Atticus spoke sarcastically, patting him on the back. “I know that you know that we are working with the other tribe, and I think we can see through your pitiful attempt to create tension between us. So, are you done now? Kind of sad since I saw you as a mature man, and not a gossiping girl.”

“Gossiping girl? Wow. That’s coming from someone who whines and complains how inactive they are. They say that if you can’t dish it out, well, you see how much I’m dishing out, but can you take me? Doubt it.”

“Austin just shut the fuck up already.” Chris spoke, obviously agitated as he crossed his arms, “You’ve got problems. Stop bringing attention upon to yourself, because you already look like an ass.”

Annoyed by it all Sherry stepped to intervene, “Quiet everyone! Just peace out. Austin you go over there,” Sherry pointed along the beach, “Chris you go over there,” Sherry pointed to the trees behind the shelter, “and Atticus you go by the fire.”

Sherry and Mike D. both sat by the beach, before heading off to tribal council.

“Have you talked to Pawl recently?” Mike D. asked, whipping the sand off his feet with a towel.

“Yeah, just a few minutes ago.”

“Okay, well talk to him again, because we made a deal.”

“Okay.” Sherry smiled, confused.

“Your alliance is going to team up with me, making a six-person alliance.”

“Great.” Sherry smiled yet again; a little angry she’s in a deal she never agreed to.

The Mataulanga tribe packed their bags for tribal council, as all fourteen remaining castaways grab their torches and head off to tribal council. On the way to tribal council, John and Sherry discuss the upcoming vote.

“Did the vote change from Pawl?” Sherry asked, whispering.

“I think, I’m going to vote for Austin.”

“Oh, Okay, I don’t know what to do though. I promised Austin I wouldn’t vote for him, back in the beginning.”

“Yeah, but I like Pawl a lot more. But Austin never does anything, ack.”

“Well I’m voting for Austin,” John whispered back, “And so is the other tribe.”

“I guess I’ll have to use ‘Cindi logic’ here. I never said I’d promise.”

“I’m really confused about the vote,” Sherry spoke to the camera, minutes before tribal council. “I don’t know if everyone knows that Austin is the one to go, so Pawl may get a few votes. But if only a few people know, Pawl may be the one to go. It will be an interesting tribal council.”

“Welcome to your first tribal council, as two tribes.” Paul greeted the Mataulanga and Tamaseko tribes, as they all one by one entered the tribal council. As everyone sat down, Paul began the questions.

“Chris, has everyone gotten along living together?”

“Well, there is one person who has started unnecessary drama.” Austin laughed rolling his eyes at this comment.

“Austin, you’ve got anything to say?” Paul asked.

“They’re all scared of me, because I called them all out. That’s all there is to it.”

“Robert, you lost by three steps in the immunity challenges, and all the challenges have really been close. What do you think of this back and forth game?”

“The tribes are definitely even in the sense that we both do so well in challenges. Each challenges has only bin won or lost by a small margin. So I definitely know we can bounce back.”

“Sherry, how to vote, with the other tribe voting as well? What part does that play in your voting?”

“The other tribe voting really does change things, because if they all stuck together, they could decide who goes and who stays. So its scary because the other tribe may have your fate in their hands.”

“And on that note it’s time to vote. Austin you’re up first.”

“This is for your little piss ant rant about me.” Austin smiled placing a ballot marked Pawl into the bucket.

Rich walked up to the voting booth and wrote down Sherry. “Purely strategy. She’s a threat, and has to go.”

Rich was soon followed by Pawl, who simply wrote Austin on his tribal council ballet. “Either you or me bud.”

Everyone soon followed, and Paul went to go collect the votes. “Once the votes are read, the decision is final, and that person will be asked to leave the tribal council area immediately. I’ll read the votes.

First vote…

[ Pawl ]

That’s one vote Pawl.

Second vote…

[ Sherry ]

One vote Sherry, One vote Pawl.

Third vote…

[ Austin ]

One vote Austin, one vote Sherry, one vote Pawl.

Fourth vote…

[ Pawl ]

Two votes Pawl, one vote Austin, one vote Sherry.

Fifth vote…

[ Austin ]

Two votes Austin, two votes Pawl, one vote Sherry.

Sixth vote…

[ Austin ]

Three votes Austin, two votes Pawl, one vote Sherry.

Seventh vote…

[ Austin ]

Four votes Austin, two votes Pawl, one vote Sherry.

Eight vote…

[ Austin ]

Five votes Austin, two votes Pawl, one vote Sherry.

Ninth vote…

And the third person vote out of Survivor Snafu: Tokelau…

[ Austin ]

Austin grabbed his belongings and torch and brought them to Paul. “Austin the tribe has spoken.” Paul extinguished Austin’s torch as Austin waved goodbye to everyone.

“Three down, thirteen more to go. Obviously if there’s drama early in this game, there will be later down the road. Head back to camp, I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”