Chapter 11: Day 3 – Camels and Chaos
The third sunrise over the endless dunes of the Sahara Desert felt different.
Everyone was already exhausted.
Two days of survival tasks had drained their energy.
Some students walked around like zombies.
Others still had chaotic energy somehow.
And a few… looked annoyingly fresh.
---
Near the camp fire pit—
Care, Lyra, and Ash were already awake again.
Stretching.
Doing light strength training.
Balancing exercises.
The morning routine they never skipped.
---
Across the camp—
MJ stepped out of the boys' tent looking half-dead.
"I can't move."
Kavin walked behind him.
"You said that yesterday too."
MJ pointed at the desert.
"This place is trying to kill us."
---
JJ stretched her arms dramatically.
"Why is survival camp so… survival?"
Freya replied,
"Because it's literally in the desert."
Rakhi sighed.
"I miss air conditioning."
---
Just then—
The instructor's voice echoed across the camp.
"DAY THREE ACTIVITY!"
Everyone groaned immediately.
---
"Today's schedule!"
"Morning physical training."
"Followed by camel riding!"
---
Silence.
Then—
Alex blinked.
"…camel riding?"
---
Cin grinned.
"That sounds fun."
Percy crossed his arms.
"That sounds dangerous."
---
Soon the students were gathered in a large open area.
The physical training started first.
Running.
Balance drills.
Climbing sand slopes.
Team coordination.
---
Some students were doing great.
Some were struggling badly.
---
Ash ran across the sand easily.
Lyra followed behind her.
"Okay… you run like a professional."
Ash shrugged.
"I train a lot."
---
Meanwhile—
MJ collapsed dramatically in the sand.
"I quit."
Kavin kicked sand at him.
"You've been running for five minutes."
---
JJ tried climbing a sand slope.
She slid back down instantly.
"This is illegal."
Freya laughed.
"You're fighting sand."
---
Nearby—
Care and Cole were again competing silently.
Running.
Climbing.
Jumping obstacles.
Both refusing to lose.
---
Alex whispered to Keifer,
"They're racing again."
Keifer smirked.
"They're going to fight later."
---
After the exhausting drills—
The instructor clapped.
"Now!"
"Camel riding!"
---
Everyone turned.
Behind them stood a long line of camels.
Tall.
Huge.
And slightly terrifying.
---
Rakhi stared.
"Why are they so tall?"
Freya whispered,
"That thing looks like it could throw me into another country."
---
MJ pointed at one.
"That one is staring at me."
Ren replied calmly,
"Because you're loud."
---
Soon the guides started assigning camels.
Students climbed awkwardly onto the saddles.
Some excited.
Some nervous.
Some already regretting everything.
---
Alex climbed first.
"Okay this is actually cool."
Cole climbed onto the camel behind him.
"Just don't fall."
---
Next—
Lyra climbed up.
She turned and helped Care up onto the saddle behind her.
Care settled carefully.
---
Lyra grinned.
"Ready?"
Care nodded.
"Let's see how stable this is."
---
The guide shouted.
"Camels will stand now!"
---
The camels started rising.
Front legs first.
Then back legs.
---
Lyra adjusted her grip.
Alex laughed.
"This is awesome—"
---
Behind them—
Care's camel suddenly jerked upward faster.
Care lost her balance.
For one second—
She slipped.
---
And then—
THUD.
Care hit the sand.
---
Everyone froze.
---
JJ gasped.
"CARE!"
Freya jumped down immediately.
Rakhi ran forward.
---
Cole was the first one to reach her.
"Care!"
---
Care pushed herself up slightly.
"I'm fine."
Cole looked at her ankle.
"You're not fine."
---
Lyra jumped down from the camel.
"Oh my god—are you okay?"
Ash arrived seconds later.
"What happened?"
---
Care winced slightly but still spoke calmly.
"I slipped."
---
Alex helped her sit up.
"You scared everyone."
---
MJ whispered dramatically,
"That was cinematic."
Kavin smacked his arm.
"Not the time."
---
The instructor examined her ankle.
"Sprained."
Care sighed.
"Of course."
---
She stood up carefully.
"I can still continue."
Cole stared at her.
"No."
---
Care crossed her arms.
"It's not serious."
Cole replied flatly,
"You fell off a camel."
---
Everyone nearby started whispering.
JJ leaned toward Freya.
"This is getting interesting."
Freya nodded.
"Very interesting."
---
The activities continued.
Care sat out most of the camel riding.
Watching everyone else struggle.
Laughing occasionally.
---
Finally—
The training ended.
The camp was about five kilometers away.
Everyone began walking back.
---
Care stood up and started walking.
Slowly.
---
Lyra frowned.
"You shouldn't walk."
Care shook her head.
"I'm fine."
---
Two steps later—
She stumbled.
---
Before she hit the ground—
A hand caught her.
---
Cole.
---
He looked down at her.
"You're not walking."
Care protested immediately.
"I can walk."
---
Cole ignored her completely.
He lifted her.
Carrying her bridal style.
---
Care froze.
"Cole—put me down."
---
Cole started walking.
"No."
---
Care protested again.
"I'm serious."
Cole replied calmly,
"I know."
---
Behind them—
The entire group stopped walking.
Staring.
---
Alex blinked.
"…wow."
---
JJ whispered loudly,
"OH MY GOD."
Freya covered her mouth laughing.
---
Cin nudged Percy.
"Did you see that?"
Percy nodded slowly.
"I saw that."
---
MJ grinned.
"This is better than television."
---
Lyra laughed.
"You two realize everyone is watching?"
---
Care groaned.
"This is unnecessary."
Cole replied,
"You have a sprained ankle."
---
Ash crossed her arms smirking.
"He's not wrong."
---
Gorya walked beside them calmly.
"You could at least thank him."
Care glared at her.
"No."
---
Cole smirked slightly.
"See? Ungrateful."
---
Everyone continued walking toward the camp.
Laughing.
Teasing.
Whispering.
---
JJ shouted dramatically,
"ARE YOU TWO DATING?!"
---
Both of them replied instantly—
"NO."
---
The group burst into laughter.
---
And somewhere far beyond the dunes of the Sahara Desert, the guards continued their silent watch.
Unaware that within this chaotic group of students…
Bonds were forming.
Alliances were growing.
And something far bigger than a survival camp was slowly beginning.