The sunrise creeps over the horizon casting and orange glow over the crystal clear ocean. It illuminates the small island and reveals the two speed boats rushing towards it. Jeff Probst stands at the edge of the jetty, waiting for the contestants to join him. Behind him is a large jungle gym of containers and other items sprawled around or tied to it.
As the boats pull into the jetty, Jeff grabs the two large flag poles behind him, passing them to the first people to pile out of the boats. Nick grabs the red flag for Iririki and leads the way to the mat with his tribe which Jeff directs them too. Lian grabs the orange flag for Mele, she strides ahead in front of her other team members and a few of them cast concerned looks at eachother. She clearly has a self-important mindset and it is already showing through her lack of patience.
"Welcome to Survivor Vanuatu, 16 survivors and only one of you will be the sole survivor," Jeff said as he made his way down the jetty to join the contestants.
"You already know which tribes your in and you'll have a chance to get to know your tribemates soon," he said approaching the jungle gym he turns.
"But first, I'm going to give you ninety seconds to try and collect as much off this jungle gym as you can, anything you get on your mat in that time will be coming back to camp with you," he said, a collective excited chatter broke out.
"Your time starts," he said, pausing so the contestants could get ready to run, "Now."
Wes ran forward and climbed straight to the top, close behind him was Colby and Sierra from . Benjamin, Cresandra and Mabel all ran to the bottom and started uniting whatever they could get their hands on. Mele seemed to have a solid statergy with this having most people untying but leaving Dale and Alyssa to pile everything up on their mat.
Iririki showed less unity, grabbing things themselves and putting it on the mat themselves, although it was a more independent strategy they seemed to have more stuff piled on their mat.
In what seemed like no time at all Jeff raised his hand and yelled, "That's time."
All the castaways let out a sigh and came back to their mats to look at what they'd collected.
"Rhea, how do you think your team went just then?" Jeff asked, Rhea took a moment to look around at all their stuff and then flicked back her hair.
"Well clearly we've done pretty well," she said with a laugh.
Most of her tribe nodded.
"Well Iririki, here's your map, good luck out here and I'll see you at the first challenge tomorrow." Jeff said, handing the map to Xavier.
"Mele, here's yours,although you were working as a team, your speed wasn't quite there," he said, handing a map to Lian as the tribe looked at their lesser pile.
Mele Tribe
Lian's P.O.V
Our tribe is made up of people who think they are better than they are, for example Mabel is only carrying the flag while the rest of are carrying the heavy supplies. I cannot stand people not putting in work, especially someone as young as her. I took the map because I'm clearly most suited to being the leader, I can already tell this is a strategic tribe. It was evident in the way we all went about the first mini challenge. Strategising has already started and I need to pick out an alliance soon to be ahead of everyone.
I look over my shoulder to see Wes and Jackson chatting, both are athletic and young and could be valuable or dangerous in an alliance.
Cresandra and Dale seem to be getting along as Cresandra tips her head back and laughs loudly at something he said. Both seem like nice but slightly naive people. Maybe nice is what would be useful, loyalty could be more valuable than physical strength.
I've already crossed Mabel and Benjamin out of possible options, they are both obnoxiously annoying, young and self-absorbed.
It wouldn't surprise me if Mabel said she'd bring a mirror onto the island, it's not even and hour in and she's whining about the sticky humid environment.
This will be an interesting competition.
Benjamin's Diary Cam
Lian, the woman who charged forward with the flag has repeated history and has charged forward with the map. She seems quite cunning and it kind of scares me how intense she is already.
I can see her plotting and we haven't even gotten to camp yet, if I can make a majority alliance before she sinks her claws into people than we can get her out before she does any damage.
I can see myself as being a target, she seems quite bitter, and will probably team up with the older tribe members, and being one of the youngest here I don't think she likes me.
Hopefully my athleticism will make me more valuable to this tribe, I doubt they'll be willing to kick of they're best member.
Mabel's Diary Cam
It's so sticky here, I already know my skin will break out at first opportunity. Great.
Cresandra's P.O.V
As we approach our camp a small piece of paper at the stump of a tree catches my eye. I look around subtly to see if anyone else notices it, but it doesn't seem like anyone has. I make a mental note to check it out later.
Our camp is filled with palm trees and coconuts and I dump the crate onto the sand in relief. Although it wasn't painful, the crate was fairly heavy.
"This place is so beautiful," I breath out, looking at the stunning crystal clear water and sun beating down on our skin.
"Lets take inventory," Lian suggests, there is no break with this woman. But her idea is a good one and I crouch down to open the crate in front of me, praying for something good.
It has two pots for carrying water in, I pull them out and show the tribe. Alyssa claps and I smile at her, she seems like a really genuine woman.
Was opens his and pulls out a bag of beans and rope at this Dale lets out a whoop, when I was talking to him before he seemed excited about the prospect of building the shelter and I knew this rope would help.
Overall our tribe had beans, pots, water satchels, rope, bananas, a few chunks of wood and a machete. It was a good start and I was really happy with our team effort. Lian however, was not.
Dales Diary Cam
While I thought our tribe had done great job, Miss Lian was not happy. She immediately rolled her eyes at our efforts and that just out a serious damper on our moods. But I think her attitude isn't going to get her far in the game.
Everyone's frustrations with her are already clear, when she lashed out a Mabel for not carrying enough the tension between those two just skyrocketed. It will be interesting to see how that pans out.
Lian's Diary Cam
My niece could've done better than us.
She's in a wheelchair.
Iririki tribe:
Xavier's Diary Cam
When Jeff handed me the map I could feel god smiling down on me, this was his way of saying you're meant to guide this tribe. I was stoked!
Rhea's P.O.V
With Colby next to me chatting about his family we make our way to camp, Xavier leads. Colby seems like a really nice guy and looks to be in good shape. He could be a possible ally; although we haven't even gotten to the camp yet I need to think about these things a figure out the dynamics of the camp. I want to be in an alliance with people who are physical and people who I can manipulate. That way if it lasts to the merge we will have an advantage in the individual immunities. I look around our tribe as we continue through the rainforest like terrain.
Ashley and Nick are walking together, neither of them seem to be as bulky as Colby and both look quite switched on. I'll have to watch those two. Behind the, walk Sierra, Meatloaf and Penelope. Although two of them are the oldest of our tribe, all three of them look quite strong.
The only way I'll be to judge everyone's strengths will be in the challenges, I can't wait for our first one.
"We're here," exclaims Xavier from in front of us.
Nick P.O.V
When I saw our camp I was so impressed, it's stunning and spacious. The water is crystal clear and the sand is soft and white.
I'm so excited to be here, the whole way from Jeff's introductions I've been talking to Ashley about my life in NYC. She seems like a really genuine person and I can definitely see myself alining myself with her. I haven't really gotten a chance to talk to anyone else, but being a social person I can't wait to just live the survivor experience and going swimming with some people. Or sitting around the campfire hearing about everyone's lives.
No one immediately jumps out at me as being troublesome or a threat. I think I ended up with a pretty good tribe with lots of athletic people. This whole experience is just so exciting and I can't believe I'm here!
Obviously I'm going to try and play on my strengths and be as social as possible, so when the first elimination comes around I have a solid alliance. Although it's wishful thinking I think I can make it happen.
Sierra P.O.V
"Okay guys, let's put all our stuff here!" I announce finding a space of sand in the shade.
Everyone gathers around and dumps the stuff we have, I take a quick look at it all and I'm really impressed. We did a pretty good job!
"Okay, what do we have?" Penelope asks and I begin to list the things I can see.
"We have an axe, a machete, bananas, a tarp like thing, a few long bamboo sticks and a machete," I list, nodding in appreciation.
People then start to reveal what is covered. We end up having a tub of fire wood, a bag of rice, a bucket full of wooden utensil and a large cooking pot.
We all clap our efforts and start to grab a banana each in a celebratory notion. Although the sun begins to cancel out the shade I feel pretty confident with our efforts.