I yawned, then sat up in bed. My dog Fanny had woke me up, and she always seemed to awake. Wait it’s today!! “I’m going on her nature hike with my best friend!!” I squealed. There was a picture of me(Zoey) and my bestie(Caitlin) sitting together. I looked out the window from my bed in California and saw fluffy clouds like marshmallows covering the sky. It would be the perfect day

“Look at the sky!! Those are cumulus clouds!! They grow vertically up to 1800 and above feet!! Clouds are tiny droplets of ice” my friend Caitlin droned on. Her voice became softer and softer to me as I looked around. Our parents were letting us go on our own to explore, but we had to be back by sunset. “Caitlin!!” I yelled. “Enough with the scientific nonsense, we’re her to explore!! Not take notes about the sky!!”

“You’re right. Well then, let's get going!!” She said with a smile. Caitlin pulled out a map and made three points. “These are the places we’re going to. After we see all three, we’ll head back.” Caitlin said. “Which one do you want to go to first?”

“Hmm what about that one right there??” I pointed to a spot near a river and lots of trees. It looked like a good spot to eat lunch. My mind seemed to always be on food, but that’s what makes me me!! So off we went hiding in the shade of the trees and exploring every nook and cranny of the forest. I couldn’t help but looking up at the sky.  When we finally reached the spot, we sat down to eat lunch. Caitlin sat down next to me, eager to eat the cookies we had brought. At of nowhere she said, “Look up!! Those are altocumulus clouds!! There white and spread out like small cotton balls. Those clouds are from 6,500 feet and 18000 feet. Reminds me of cookies on a baking tray. Hey, they reminds me!! Where are the cookies? Also” Once she got on a roll, I don’t think she could ever stop. I smiled and looked at Caitlin pointing at the sky. I closed my eyes and put my head across the tree, listening to the sound of the bird chirps.

I awoke a while later to the sight of Caitlin running around in the grass. She had made a flower tiara and had plopped on her head. When she saw me, she ran over and pulled out another tiara for me to wear. I stood up, dusted of the dust on my jeans, and carefully placed the tiara on my head. “You’re it!!” I called running across the grass waiting for Caitlin to chase me. Instead, she was looking at the sky and her chin was trembling. I ran over to her and we sat down. “What’s wrong?” I asked. Th- th- the sky it’s filled with altostratus clouds.”

“What about altostratus clouds?”

“These were the clouds the day my mother had died Those clouds are from 6,500 feet and 18000 feet.The clouds cover the whole sky and in thinner areas the sun peeks through. Like that day. The sun barely peeked through, and then it was gone. And they usually form before long periods of rain. Believe me, for me, there was lots of rain .It’s fine though!!” Caitlin said, wiping a tear from her face. “Anyways, where to next!”

“What about that greenish area?" I said

“That looks fine. Let’s go!” Caitlin said replied.

We started for the next place which was in a plain field with hills. I couldn’t get my head out of clouds after Caitlin’s fact pack, and her story. I sighed, then looked up. “Why not play a game,” I thought to myself. The clouds in the sky are low, but cover the whole sky. Hmm.. I know! Stratus clouds! And those are found up to 6500 feet above the ground. Wait don’t those clouds bring light mist or drizzle? As I continued to ponder, I felt a strong hand pull me by the shirt. “Look out!!” The voice called. I looked down to see myself standing on the edge of a cliff. Wind swept through my hair and the lights went out.

“Caitlin!!” I called. “Where are we!?” I shivered, and looked around. It was cold, and looked as if rain was going to come. “Caitlin!!” I called again. I called again and again and when there was no answer, I began to get worried. Then I heard a faint voice saying, “ The clouds look wet and low that covers the sky. Oh no!! The sky is filled with Nimbostratus clouds!! Those are found up to 6500 feet. Rain is coming! Thankfully it’s only going to be light rain. I still I need to find shelter!” I sighed a breath of relief. She was fine! I ran toward Caitlin and put my hand on her shoulder. “Yahhhh!” she screamed. She turned around and smiled. “There you are! I thought I lost you! Anyways, do you have any idea where we are?” My relief disappeared as I realized the truth. We were stuck in basically the middle of nowhere without being able to contact anyone. I shook my head sadly then thought of what to do. “Hallelujah! I have an idea! It’s brilliant! We’ll take fifty steps in each direction and if we don’t see anything, come back and try a different way.” Caitlin said. I thought over it, then nodded. It’s not like we had any other options. And so, we set of on this “amazing” journey.