As I stepped from the bus, the haze bent around me, seeming reluctant to touch my body's heat. I lifted my hand and moved it about, smiling as the fog retreated and then soaked back in as my hand moved away. "Wow," I breathed.

As I walked over to get my duffle bag, I felt myself stepping more lightly than usual, my body already trying to move with the fog. I giggled despite myself, and got a strange look from Tennielle, but I just shrugged. "I like it."

She picked up her duffle bag, slinging the strap over her shoulder, then led the way toward the line of six cabins that stood starkly against the mystery of the valley. The class formed a circle outside the nine cabins, and Ms. Robin assigned us to them in groups. Luckily, I was in the same cabin as Tennielle and our friend Kiyenta, along with her sister Akelka and three girls named Meline, Nedia and Zelenti. Akelka immediately claimed the top bunk closest to the door, racing up the ladder to drop her stuff in the bed. I smiled, then moved to the back, choosing a top bunk. Tennielle climbed into the one across from me, and Nedia took the one across from Akelka. Kiyenta was below me and Meline and Zelenti below Tennielle and Akelka, leaving the bed below Nedia open.

Ten minutes later, we had grouped back outside the cabins. Soon, we were joined by three people that looked to be about thirty years of age. One of the men stepped forward to speak, while the other and the woman remained a step back.

"Hello," he greeted us warmly. "My name is Jared Phoenix, director of the Silver Heron Camp for Science Students. You can call me Jared. These lovely people-" he gestured to the two behind him- "are Ms. Silver and Mr. Goldlake. They will be assisting you with anything you need for your six days here at camp."

The class managed to clap without showing any energy whatsoever, and Mr. Goldlake stepped forward. "Our first activity will be to get a tour of the area around camp," he began briskly. "We will not be exploring the entirety of Mist Valley, as that would most likely take the entire six days. In addition, since the mist is particularly bad, we would like you all to be extra careful. Please follow the instructions your group leader gives you."

Finally, Ms. Silver took her turn.  "Children, I cannot stress enough that you are not to go wandering out in the trees at your leisure.  I'm sure your mothers have told you this a plethora of times, but yet most students cannot seem to exercise a degree of basic caution!  Please, prove to me that 9th graders aren't always complete idiots."

I held back a snort as she completed her speech. It was terse, sure, but it was so direct it was funny. I turned to Tennielle and saw her staring at Ms. Silver, an almost incredulous look of annoyance on her face. I guess the direct personality isn't for everyone, I thought with an internal shrug.

We were divided into three groups to explore the valley. I was in Jared's group. At the moment, I was rather indifferent to him, after he'd frankly shown no signs of being any more interesting than another nice authority figure. Still, I decided to make it my mission to get on his good side. Tennielle was in Ms. Silver's group, which was unfortunate for both of them if the look on Tennielle's face was any indication.

For the first five minutes or so, the tour was actually interesting, and I tried to remember as much as I could so I could find my way around later. After an hour, though, when we were still trekking through the same muck, I resolved to attempt at a new friendship.

I chose my target carefully. Akdani was a quiet boy, but at least he wasn't already talking to someone. I walked up, my feet slurping in the muddy ground. He turned around with a board look, saw me, and turned back around to stare determinedly at nothing.

Well fine then, I thought, sensing that my chance was diminishing. If I'm really that horrible I'll just leave you alone. I settled back a few paces and contented myself again with watching the scenery. It was really very much the same, but I tried to notice the little things that set one tree apart from another.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I began to see more. I saw the slick sheen to the trees, and the insects that thrived in the moisture. I noticed the way the sunlight was broken and dimmed by the fog like a bad dream pushing through a web.

The air was getting colder, the mist beginning to bite as night came. Jared finally had us stop. "Well, this is as far as you should need to go." His voice startled me, and I jumped slightly, "Since you've all been very quiet, you should know the way, so I'll tell you a story on the way back to camp."

I perked up at this. I had always loved stories, whether it was writing or reading them. As he began, I could almost feel the class stretch forward in response to his quiet tone.