Author: JustSkipIt
Rating: PG
Feedback: Please leave feedback on the Survivor - Ash Island thread on the Kitten Board.
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters nor do I own Survivor. And believe it or not, I also don't own any small islands. On the other hand, this island is fictional so let's say I own it. I'm making no money from this fiction and intend no copyright infringement.

MFashnek Camp - Day 12
The MFashnek team sits around the camp fire drinking coffee or water and breakfasting on bananas. As usual, they all pass around the bug paste and smear it on their arms, legs, and faces. Tara reaches for another cup and rubs the ointment onto her nose and ears which we can see are still peeling from an earlier sunburn. "I th-think this works pretty well," she says and offers it to the group. Faith reaches out first to rub the newest ointment on her sunburns.

"What's in it?" Joyce asks in what she probably thinks is a subtle way.

Tara thinks about it for a moment before answering, "I can show you if we have time."

Confessional Caption - Joyce - Art Gallery Owner
"She's very very smart that Tara," Joyce tells the camera directly as she sits against a tree trunk. "I mean she doesn't come out and say that she wants to be the only one who knows how to make her magical potions but she also doesn't jump up to show me the tree. I also notice she only makes one day worth at a time."

Robin and Faith are breaking up wood for fire while Richard carries the piles back to the fire. Meanwhile Tara, Kendra, and Joyce are attempting to catch fish and having little luck. We see four small fish on the rocks next to them. The team appears to work well together although we see snippets of conversation between different groups. After while the groups switch so that Richard and Faith fish, Robin and Tara go to gather berries, and Joyce and Kendra work on gathering the fire wood.

Confessional Caption - Kendra - Interpreter
"This team has its high and low spots," she makes a face, "but one thing I'll say about us: we split the work up. Robin and Tara went to gather berries which is a good combination. She knows what to get and he needs a break from busting his ass."

The shot switches to show Faith who has hooked a rather large fish, at least a few pounds and is struggling to get it out of the water. Richard helps her and the two of them celebrate the catch by dancing a surprising little jig. "Well done, Faith," Richard tells the dark-haired girl. He pats her on the shoulder.

Confessional Caption - Richard - Small Town Mayor
"Faith is dangerous, that's for sure. But the one I'm getting worried about is Tara. She's much smarter than the other two and no one will want to get rid of her."

"Where did everyone else go?" Richard asks casually.

"I'm sure everyone is doing their part," Faith answers suspiciously as she casts her hook again.

"Yes," Richard agrees, "everyone is doing their part. Although I'm not sure that gathering berries and making some paste is a real heavy work load."

"What are you saying?" Faith turns on the mayor.

"Oh nothing," Richard answers, "I guess it's just that everyone has a specialty around here but I'm not sure everyone is contributing equally to the tribe."

"Tara?" Faith questions, "You're questioning Tara's value to this tribe?" She is obviously angry at Richard's question as she stalks away from the man: "Why don't you see how you do without Tara if you think she's so expendable. The rest of us want her around."

Confessional Caption - Faith - Personal Trainer
"Ok, Richard is smarter than that. He wants me to turn on Tara but that was really not the right approach. No one on this team would reasonably doubt Tara's usefulness. I mean, that's her danger: that everyone will want her around. That and that she's so damn nice."

Akathla Camp - Day 12
The mood around the fire is still tense as the Akathla team drinks water and eats some plantains. "I miss that pig," Mac jokes.

"Ah come on," Buffy jokes, "Wesley was a bore but not a boar. And he might have eventually helped us in some challenges."

Everyone laughs. Later we see shots of the small team attempting to catch fish, gathering fire wood, and eating plantains.

Confessional Caption - Mac - Retired Army
"I'll tell you what. It's hard out here. We're all hungry and I mean really hungry. We never win the food rewards so we're eating the little bit of rice and some fruit we find. The pig was good but it didn't last that long. These kids are looking thin! And the damn bugs! I haven't seen bugs like this since the jungle. This Willow girl has welts on her arms and legs from the bites and from scratching them."

Buffy and Willow are breaking up firewood and carrying it back. "It's hard to know who we can trust now," Buffy says.

"I know," Willow agrees, "I thought that Xander was with us but he left to save his butt."

"But our alliance is strong?" Buffy asks for assurance. Willow nods her head and shakes the blonde's hand.

Akathla Camp - Day 13
"We've got tree mail," Oz and Xander call as they lay the folded dinner napkin on a log.

"A challenge for you,
A challenge for me,
You might be sitting under a tree,
A feast you'll have
If you are smart
But everyone can have a part."

"Great," Xander jokes, "Will gets to eat today."

"We all will eat," Mac attempts to reassure the entire group.

MFashnek - Day 13
The MFashnek team has also opened tree mail and all seem to feel confident that they will do well in the challenge. "Alright," Robin says, "food all around this team."

"Some people may have more to eat than others," Faith jokes.

"Which group do you think you'll fall into?" Richard jokes a little too seriously, earning a look from the three younger girls.

Reward Challenge
Akathla is already on their mat when MFashnek enters, giving the earlier team a chance to see that Riley is no longer in the game. We can see some of the Akathla players nodding their heads at the change as they realize what the athlete's injury cost his team.

"Welcome," Jeff calls as he sees the two teams. "How is everyone?"

"We're doing well, J," Faith answers for the MFashnek team, "but we could use more food."

"How about you, Akathla?" Jeff asks.

"Same here," Willow answers, "food would be a good."

"Well, then some of you will like today's challenge," he states. He points around the field so that the competitors can see four tables set up around the field. Three of the tables are small round tables with white tablecloths. On each table are two silver domes--the type that cover food in restaurants. The fourth table is larger and has assorted domes over it. "Today you are playing for," he lifts the first set of domes to display two large plates of grilled Salmon. The other domes hold two steaks and two plates of chicken respectively. The larger table contains various items including salads, baked potatoes, French fries, and deserts.

"Oh god," the competitors are screaming as he lifts each dome.

Walking back in front of them Jeff points the other direction to show a series of tree trunks, crates, and logs set up. On each of these are placed various silver domes. He holds up two carved icons about the size of his hand. "Pairs of icons like these are placed under those domes," he says. "They represent the food items. In other words, there are four shaped like salmon although only two match each other. There are two matching icons for each food item." The person who matches the icons can eat that item. The competitors continue cheering at the promise of getting hot food.

"Ok," Jeff announces, "we've drawn for guessing position. Richard you go first."

Richard steps up and quickly lifts two domes revealing the coke icon and the blue steak icon, holding both up for the group before replacing the domes. Mac is next and reveals the red chicken icon and the blue beer carving. Faith lifts her first dome revealing the other red chicken icon and cheers as she runs over to reveal the other, becoming the first person to guarantee herself a good meal. Tara steps up next and chooses two unrevealed domes, surprising everyone as she turns over first one and then the other grilled vegetable icons. Next Buffy reveals the red fish icon and the first potato icon. Joyce is similarly unlucky as she reveals the red beer stein and the blue salad plate.

Willow reveals the coke icon before revealing the second steak blue steak plate. Oz appears to seriously consider the options before revealing the two blue steak plates and jumping up and down with his bounty, showing uncharacteristic emotion. We quickly see Xander, Robin, and Kendra choosing again, each earning nothing for their trouble. Richard is able to pick up the second chicken plate while Mac gets the baked potato. Faith reveals the second red fish but can't remember the match position, selecting a wine glass instead. Tara easily matches the two revealed fish carvings and looks close to crying as she holds the carvings close to her chest before returning to place them with her previously won vegetables.

As most items have been revealed, they are starting to go fast. Joyce picks up the French fries while Buffy apparently forgets the location of the second steak icon and instead reveals a fish icon. Willow looks a long time at the "playing board," obviously deciding whether to take the fish or steak match. Finally she smiles, glances at Tara, and easily matches the fish icons. Playing immediately after her, Oz matches the steak to earn himself two steak dinners.

The rest of the game continues with all food eventually being distributed. Xander earns a beer as does Robin; Kendra finally gets in the game with the second salad plate as well as the coke; Willow earns the wine glass and Mac gets the last beer.

The players all collect their meals, with Oz trading his second steak to Mac and Kendra to share for their potato and salad. Those who have won the main dishes go to their tables to eat the meals. Faith and Richard can be seen enjoying their chicken but looking suspiciously at each other. "This will make you strong, Dick," Faith tells the older man.

"You know, Faith," Richard tells her, "some young people have no respect for their elders."

"I've noticed that," she says back testily.

Oz, Mac, and Kendra appear to share their food nicely. Those who didn't have a main dish sit around the others on the ground, enjoying their rewards.

"Do you want to share these?" Willow asks Tara, indicating her wine and Tara's vegetables.

Tara nods enthusiastically as she takes another bite of the fish. "You c-could have had the steak," she says with some question in her voice.

"I thought the company over here would be better," the redhead flirts.

Confessional Caption - Tara - Medical Receptionish/Artish
"I'm not sure what to think of Willow. She s-seems nice and she's certainly determined but she's playing a game just like me. Everyone wants to win the money. "

"This is the best fish I've ever had," Willow says. Tara nods but doesn't say anything. We see all the competitors eating their food with gusto.

Confessional Caption - Willow - Software Startup Owner
"I'm so stuffed, I swear I am going to be sick. Maybe if the bugs can leave me alone, I could take a nap." She looks around as if truly confessing her thoughts to the camera. "I'm not sure what's going on with me and Tara. I think she's pretty special but I know she's playing a game too. I mean maybe I win the money and maybe I get the girl and maybe both happen. Who knows? On the other hand, maybe CBS edits this entire bit out because it's not exactly a popular topic at the moment."

Akathla Camp
"Well we did pretty well today," Mac says appreciatively. Willow jokingly groans at him to show her agreement. Even though some of the Akathlas had less to eat than others, all still consider it a pretty good day.

MFashnek Camp
Faith, Kendra, and Tara stand at the water's edge. "Richard is getting worse," Faith comments.

"Let's win our challenge tomorrow," Kendra says, "but if not, we need to get rid of him before he kills us off."

Meanwhile we see Joyce and Richard talking at the fire. "Faith is the dangerous element in this game," he says.

"Robin," Joyce says, "don't you agree."

"I want to win the challenges," Robin says angrily as he stands up and stomps from the fire.

Confessional Caption - Robin - High School Principal
"Being on this island is very much like being in high school. It's all ‘he said this' and ‘she said this' and ‘I don't know if she likes me…' Very adolescent. And hard to decide who to side with."

We see Tara still standing at water's edge looking into the sunset as Joyce approaches. Hearing the older woman's approach the blonde states, "I miss my d-daughter more than I thought I could."

"Children are hard," Joyce agrees, "I miss mine and worry every day and every night. I mean I just have so many questions: are they healthy? Are they happy? Do they have enough to eat?" Tara nods silently. "Tara," the older woman says with some measure of sincerity, "you might not want to align yourself with Faith much longer."

"What are you s-saying?" Tara asks. "Is Robin with the two of you?"

"I'm just saying you might be better off with us than where you are now," Joyce warns before walking away.

Confessional Caption - Joyce - Art Gallery Owner
"I don't want to use Tara but it's a game and we're all playing to win. The other two won't turn on each other and we need her for the numbers. "

A night-vision camera shows Tara, Faith, and Kendra lying in the shelter. Tara whispers to the other two Joyce's warning.

Confessional Caption - Robin - High School Principal
"I try to stay above it but strange things are afoot here. I just want to play my own game but I may have to decide tomorrow where I go."

MFashnek Camp - Day 14
The team sits around the campfire drinking coffee and water as Tara cuts up the plantains. "These portions are e-extra small since we a-all ate yesterday," she explains as she passes the "plate" around.

"Thank you, Tara," Richard says as he makes eye contact with the blonde. He looks like something secret is passing between them. Tara looks at him for a minute before shaking her head and standing up to walk to the water. We see a look pass between Faith and Kendra as well as another between Joyce and Richard.

Confessional Caption - Faith - Personal Trainer
"I don't know what Dick's up to. He's acting like he and Tara are all close but I'm having a hard time believing it. I think she's loyal to me. Of course if I'm wrong, I'm out of the game. Either way, given the choice, I prefer to believe her."

Kendra and Tara talk on the beach as Tara again reassures the other girl of her loyalty to their alliance. "What is Richard doing?" Kendra asks.

"He wants to make you and Faith think I'm crossing over so you'll cut me loose. Then o-once you do, he has the numbers," Tara explained sincerely.

Again Kendra adopts her Jamaican accent: "Ya mon"

Akathla Camp - Day 14

Confessional Caption - Willow - Software Startup Owner
Willow stands at the edge of the surf, scratching her arms which we can see are covered with bug bites. "It's hard not to wake up and wonder if this is the day that I go home," Willow says. "I mean if it's Mac, Xander, and Oz, then they'll send me home because at least Buffy is strong. How many puzzle challenges could there be?"

"We've got tree mail," Xander and Mac called as they waved the small lifeguard buoy in their hand. Tied to the buoy are ropes, locks, and carbineer clips. Tags hang from them saying, "untie me" and "faster" and "it's a race."

Confessional Caption - Oz
"Well it looks like a swimming and untying challenge. Woo hoo for me. I can only hope that we win it or that everyone wants to keep me around and get rid of the strength for the individual challenges. "

Immunity Challenge
We see the teams enter and stand on their mats and Jeff reclaims the immunity idol from the Akathla team. "Well," he starts, "everyone ate well yesterday. Some people better than others." Today immunity is at stake. He holds up the idol.

He points out into the water toward a floating raft and begins explaining the challenge: "Each team has a floating raft in the water as well as five buoys tied under the flags." He indicates a line of five flags floating in a line between the shore and the raft. "The buoy may be fastened with knots, a clip like this, or a lock. The key for the lock is tied on a string to the same base." Everyone listens to his description. "Teams will swim from here to the raft. Once everyone on the team has reached the raft and is on it, one player will swim to a buoy and release it so that it floats on the top of the water. That player will then return to the raft and another player will do the same on another buoy. You can release the buoys in any order but all must be floating and all players must have returned to the raft to win the challenge."

Richard again sits out the challenge and the other players stand on the beach ready to run and swim. "Survivors ready. Go!" Jeff shouts and everyone runs for the water. Faith, Robin, and Buffy reach the water nearly simultaneously and begin swimming. Everyone else enters the water with intense splashing until all players are swimming. The three players who reached the water quickly now lead the group, swimming powerfully toward their rafts, joined now by the strong swimming style of Kendra. Tara, Willow, Joyce, Xander, and Mac follow steadily behind. Oz trails far behind this group as he dog-paddles toward the raft.

Robin reaches the MFashnek raft moments before Faith and hoists himself onto the platform, extending his hand toward her. As Faith lies on the raft for a moment, catching her breath, he pulls Kendra onto the surface. Meanwhile, Buffy has reached her raft, having a slightly harder time pulling herself up before cheering for her teammates. Joyce and Tara reach their raft and are easily pulled up by Robin, Kendra, and Faith while Buffy pulls Xander up and then rests for a moment as the construction worker helps Mac and Willow onto the floating structure.

The MFashnek team looks to each other for a moment before Faith dives from the raft and begins swimming, passing the first flags. Meanwhile, Oz struggles to stay afloat as he paddles toward the raft. Apparently following some agreed upon method, Faith dives when she reaches the third flag and swims down to the buoy. The camera angle shifts to follow her as she finds a carbineer clip and easily unclips it, releasing the buoy. She swims to the surface and takes a moment to recollect herself before turning and swimming toward the raft.

As Faith swims toward the raft, Oz finally reaches the Akathla raft and is pulled up by Mac and Xander as Willow dives into the water. Like Faith, she swims to the third buoy. Before she can reach it, Kendra enters the water for MFashnek and swims strongly for the last buoy. Willow dives underwater and finds her buoy secured by a rope knot. She has to dive three times to finally untie the knot and return to the surface. By the time she treads water to catch her breath and her sense of direction, Kendra has found the last buoy tied to the ocean floor. While it takes her three dives to release the buoy, her swimming power allows her to pass the third buoy on her return as Willow is pulled onto the raft.

Buffy dives in next, obviously swimming toward the last buoy and Joyce dives in, quickly reaching the closest buoy. Underwater camera work shows Joyce struggling to use the key to release the lock holding this buoy as Buffy easily unclips the farthest Akathla buoy. Joyce turns to swim back to the raft and Tara dives in while Buffy is still returning. By the time Xander dives in and races toward the next farthest buoy, Tara is diving to release the second closest MFashnek buoy. We see her reach the buoy, finding a lock, clip, and rope tying the buoy. As her team shouts encouragement, she dives five times to release all the restraints. Treading water as the buoy floats nearby, she gulps air and makes an obvious attempt to reorient herself. Beginning to swim crookedly toward the raft, she is passed by Xander who has released his buoy. Although she struggles, she reaches the raft and is pulled up by Kendra and Faith. Robin dives in to race after Mac as both men swim to the remaining buoys. Tara meanwhile, lies on the raft attempting to recover for a few seconds before standing to join her team in cheering for Robin.

By the time Robin reaches his buoy, Mac is returning. Robin dives only once to release his buoy before turning around. Even though Oz leaves the raft immediately upon Mac's return, he is only paddling toward the nearest buoy as Robin reaches the MFashnek raft and is pulled up by the other four women. After resting for a few minutes, both teams swim leisurely toward the shore and the MFashnek team allows Robin to reach out and take the offered idol from Jeff.

Akathla Team
Willow and Buffy walk by the water as they discuss the coming tribal council vote. "Merge is coming soon," Buffy states.

"Mac will be too strong in the individual immunity challenges," the two women agree.

We see them talking to Oz also. Later we see Oz and Xander talking and then Mac talking to the three women.

Confessional Caption - Buffy - College Student
"I still have this feeling that my head is on the chopping block. It was stupid of me to swim so strong today if we were going to lose anyway. Now my team is thinking, ‘maybe she's too strong to go to merge.'"

Mac picks plantains as Buffy approaches him. "You seem like an honest man, Mac," Buffy says.

"Yeah," he says uncertainly.

"I just wanted to give you a heads up. It's you tonight. You're just too strong once we merge," she says before walking off.

Oz and Xander are talking as Mac approaches them. "Hey boys," he greets them.

"Hey, Mac," Xander says while Oz waves his hand.

"Who are you voting off tonight?" Mac asks directly.

"Buffy," Oz says, raising his eyebrow to indicate that he doesn't know why Mac is asking.

"No worries, man," Xander agrees.

Confessional Caption - Mac - Retired Army
"Well I don't know who to trust out here. Oz says he's voting off Buffy but Buffy says he's voting off me. I need to make a decision and make it fast."

Tribal Council
The Akathla team enters and places their torches in their spots. "Welcome to tribal council," Jeff says as everyone takes their seats. "How are things back at camp?"

Everyone shrugs. "Oz," Jeff directs, "do you feel like you let your team down today?"

"Completely," Oz answers, "I knew I couldn't keep up on the swimming challenges but I hoped that I wouldn't hurt us this much."

"Do you feel like your head is on the block?" Jeff asks.

"It probably should be," Oz answers, "on the other hand, I think we're all aware that the game changes after merge." Mac grimaces a little at Oz's statement.

"Mac," Jeff says, "you don't look like that sits very well with you."

"Well, Jeff," the army-man retorts, "I think it all depends on what you think this team's focus needs to be."

"Let's go vote," Jeff announces.

Mac votes first and we see him write down Oz's name. "I think you're a good man, son," he growls, "but if it's you or me, I'd prefer it's you."

Oz votes next and writes down Mac's name. Xander, Willow, and Buffy vote next. Jeff carries the bucket back and opens it. "Let's count the votes," he says cheerily before reading "Oz." The team watches as he opens the second vote: "Buffy." The third appears to confuse the team as he reads Mac's name. "One vote each for Mac, Buffy, and Oz," Jeff recaps.

"Fourth vote: Oz," Jeff reads before taking a breath. Jeff opens the ballot and announces: "And the sixth person voted off Survivor - Ash Island is Oz." Oz has his torch snuffed off and walks impassively off the tribal council area. The others gather their torches and leave the area.

Vote recap
We see everyone hold up their votes. Buffy, Willow, and Mac voted for Oz. Oz voted for Mac and Xander, somewhat inexplicably voted for Buffy.

Next week on Survivor - Ash Island
Voice-over - "Tempers fly between former alliance members."
Shot of Buffy and Xander arguing. "I had to do it," Xander pleads.

"No," Buffy argues, "you could have voted with us."

"And you went to Mac behind my back," the construction worker accuses.

Voice-over - "And a challenge could change the entire game."
Shot of everyone standing on their mats on the beach with shocked looks on their faces. Sounds of people gasping in shock can be heard.

Next week on Survivor - Ash Island