Marnie packed crackers, a map, and a tiny cup into her backpack. Z wriggled into his own. “Adventure!” Marnie called, swinging open the gate.
Z shot through the gate with one backpack strap over his nose. Marnie chased him across the sunny meadow, calling, “Wait for me!”
The path curled into tall sunflowers. Z sniffed one golden bloom, then sneezed—“Achoo!”—and popped backward into a soft patch of daisies.
Marnie giggled and pointed beyond the hills. A sparkling stream flashed in the sun, and Z sprang onto the path.
At the stream, the stepping stones shone with water. Marnie crossed carefully, while Z hopped onto one and splashed both front paws into the stream.
Z shook from nose to tail. Spray flew everywhere, sprinkling Marnie from hat to shoes. “Brrr!” she cried, and they hurried toward the shady hill.
Halfway up the hill, a gust snatched Marnie’s tiny map. It sailed toward the sunflower field, fluttering like a pale bird.
Z caught the map’s corner in his teeth. Together, Marnie and Z tugged until the map came free from a thorny bush.
The map showed a hidden path below the hill. Marnie followed its dotted line, and Z trotted beside her toward home.
Back beside the daisies, Marnie unpacked the crackers and tiny cup. She leaned against Z while the hills turned gold.