Lightning crackled around our heads, and the following thunder was so loud and so close, I could feel my teeth rattling. With each bolt the world flashed white and made the darkness that followed all the darker. Getting caught in a lightning storm above the treeline is not a good idea. Watching the storm roll in over the peaks was terrifying, not even the mountains could hold back the storm's fury. The dense, black cloud seemed malevolent, as if it was trying to wipe us off the face of the planet. Zeus's might was formidable and as the storm got closer, all of us realized that we were all in mortal danger. Naturally all of us looked to Uncle Jean, the only one who had real mountain experience because he grew up in this territory. His face was as white as a sheet. Suddenly he bellowed,
"Every man for himself!!"
And took off sprinting into the woods. The rest of us stood there in shock. I took one fleeting look at the sky, looking for the stars. Then the rest of us scattered into the forest as fast as we could. For all our gear and determination and skill, the power of nature was just too much. The booming thunder sounded like God's laughter as we sprinted down the mountainside, running to nothing, but running away from everything.
