Where to go, how to live?
the questions have been burning!
what to eat? who to trust?
the strategies keep on turning.
When will we merge? when will we know?
tomorrow is the day!
what should we bring? where will we go?
A race will show the way!

The player are merging into a new tribe, No more Nicarong, No more Ocono, there is only 1 tribe, and it is every player for himself now. Strategy is crucial if you hope to make it to the final 2!

Every Lil Survivor is on their own in the 9th Reward Challenge Obstacle Course
That morning at Challenge Beach, Gia and Briene are waiting there. Set up around the clearing are several obstacle course type items. You see 3 long logs tied to a framework about a 2 feet off the ground, a triangular A-frame is made from branches and has a net up one side, ropes dangling down the other, and finally, the ropes are back on each side of the Sipyen Falls. (If you didn't read the summit meeting page, Briene is there to help Gia)
As Gia points and explains the order of the race to the kids something starts making their mouths water. They smell french fries! and a hamburger.. Gia sees people looking around so she pulls a cloth off the small table in front of her and there is a happy meal from McDonalds! still warm.. She bites into the cheeseburger and slurps the coke. Mumbling between bites she says "The winner will get a happy meal of their choice delivered to them for dinner tonight!"
Gia says that each portion of the race is worth 2 points, and who ever finishes all of them first gets another 5 points... The order of the obstacles is this... #1)balance on the long logs and walk from one end to the other (if you fall off you must start again) #2)climb up the net side of the A-frame, and repel with the ropes down the other side (or just jump, repelling is not mandatory)... #3)climb up the sipyen falls with the ropes #4)climb down the sipyen falls #5)wiggle UNDER the 3 logs and race back to Gia so for each one above, the fastest person (ie with the highest number for that part) gets 2 points... then a final total for the whole race (all the numbers added together) gets 5 more points. Winner gets the happy meal tonight!
She says "Good luck everyone!" and Briene nudges her with an elbow. "Can I try to Gia? just for fun?" Briene lines up with the players, some of whom look at each other quizzically.... Gia counts down .. "Three!" "two!" "One! GO!" The race is on!
As each kid races to the 3 long logs the players try not to elbow or jostle each other. Pierre hits the logs first, scrambling up and balancing as if he were walking on the logs in the bayou swamp. Lola and Trey are right behind him, very carefully balancing and tiptoeing across the wood.
Just a little behind them are Aggie, Lollie and Bri, now at the halfway point as Pierre and Lola are nearing the end... Trey tumbles off harmlessly, but muttering at himself as he must run to the start of the logs and begin again.
Pierre jumps off the logs' end first! winning himself the first pair of points.... Lola and Aggie still close behind him.
As Pierre scrambles up the net to climb the A-frame he seems to have some trouble, and Lollie and Trey catch up quickly! The A-frame is taller than the kids by several feet and the smaller kids have some trouble getting started as Trey scrambles over the top of it first.
Lollie, though swings herself over and takes the leap of faith, jumping to the ground and earning herself the 2 points for that part! It's still a very close race.
	As the kids approach the dangling ropes by the falls, Trey and Meggie pull a little ahead from the others. Lollie loses some of her strong lead by slipping in the water's edge and falling on her rear. She jumps right back up though, but Trey and Meggie are already halfway up the rope with the other kids mostly at the bottom. By the time Meggie manages to pull herself over the top rock, Trey is only 3 breaths behind, but she gets the 2 points for this part of the race.
As the other kids scramble up that side of the rope and then splash through the 3 feet of rushing water, they are all almost even again... Each little pair of hands grabs a rope and starts to climb down, some repelling, others just scrambling and hanging onto the rope for dear life. The falls are not that high, but it is a little scary to the kids.
Trey shows no fear though, expertly repelling and kicking off to spin down 3 feet at a time, touching the ground while most of the kids are only halfway down. 2 points for Trey!
As Trey starts to wiggle under the logs his height works against him, letting Aggie and Lollie slide right past him in a frantic urge to win.... Each girl wiggles and pulls herself under the logs, scrambling as low as possible and still making progress. As the rest of the kids start wiggling under too Aggie slides out from under the last log and begins the final race to Gia with Lollie only a step behind her. 2 points for Aggie!
With 5 different players each winning 2 points, this race is going to be close! Each kid gasping breath and pumping their legs and arms trying to be the first to reach Gia...In the last section of straight running Bri and Mandy each run amazingly fast, coming up from the rear, but can't make up for all their lost time. Gia stands and smiles as Aggie, Lollie and Pierre are dead even with each other... In the very last second Lollie finds a second wind and breaks forward just far enough ahead to reach Gia before the other 2! Lollie wins 5 more points and wins the challenge!
As Gia hugs Lollie the others kids come up, panting for breath but congratulating Lollie for a job well done. As Gia lets them all calm down, some of the kids dipping their heads into the waterfall to cool off, Gia explains how the merger will happen today... "All of you will now return to Ocono Camp. Your new supplies will be given to you tomorrow as will anything from Nicarong you might want, but for tonight you will have to make do with what the island and what Ocono offers. Welcome to Kansi Tribe!" She then gestures to Briene, "And a special welcome to Briene who is our new replacement player since Lola unfortunately left the island. She will be competing on the same level as the rest of you and after today will have the same fair chance as all of you have to win both rewards and immunity, and ultimately, the grand prize. Now you can go to Ocono Camp, now Kansi camp, and I will bring Lollie her dinner tonight. Lollie, let me know when you get a chance at what time you would like to eat." As the kids let all of this sink in, they sort of hear Gia in the background explaining that Kansi is the Kosraean word for "chief" and since ultimately there can be only one chief, it is an appropriate name for their new tribe. She also explains that as each player from Kansi is voted off they will remain on the island to watch events during tribal councils and when only 2 players remain, the jury of banished members will cast their votes for who should win and who will be the only remaining Lil Survivor. Mandy and Lola will have to show the way to Ocono from Challenge Beach.
	Later that day Gia arrives at camp, smiling at Lollie and waving her forward. "C'mon Lollie, you get to eat your happy meal at a table." Lollie looks around, not wanting to leave when everyone is getting to know each other, but the reward challenge is meant to be enjoyed. She hesitates, then goes to Gia. The get a few steps down the path when Gia looks back and says "Oh yes, you get to bring 1 person with you... ONLY one. Who do you want to join you?" Lollie agonizes over the decision then finally blurts out "Meggie COME WITH ME!!!!!"
The two girls get the happy meal of their choice and a small toy, a fisher price book about a school bus, with stickers and a page to color. Gia gives them a pack of 8 crayons. (a happy meal and the mini book are added to Lollie's and Meggie's belongings). plus the girls get a little time away from the gang in their own spot with not a chance of being overheard...UNTIL AFTER the game!!! See Lollie and Meggie's chat