Chapter 30 - 30 - Lost!

Later by 3:00 p.m., the class are having a tug-of-war game. They were divided into two groups, the Yellow Stars and the Brown Woods, along with their Pokémon. They pulled hard and serious, one pulling the other, while later, another pulls the other. Later after an hour has passed, the Brown Woods finally gave up, letting the Yellow Stars win. It was a fair match.

Later by 4:12 p.m., Rico and Maneki went to the woods to find some firewood and berries for the night. They bring Riolu, Piplup, Chespin, and Pidove with them so they could guard them. They found berries and snapped wooden branches and stashed them in a sack. But they went further more, deeper and deeper, until they got lost.

"Uh, where are we now?" Rico asked Maneki in nervousness and mild terror, "I think we are lost." In response, Maneki blew a raspberry, and responded in sarcasm, "Don't worry, I'll track our way back;" they then kept going as the Pidoves flew off away from the trees.

Much later, they kept walking until they stopped to catch their breaths.

"Where are we now?" Rico asked in scared. Riolu and Piplup then responded in scared.

"I... uh...," Maneki responded while thinking and trying to figure it out.

"Please don't tell me we're lost," Rico replied in frightened.

"...Yes, we're lost. I forgot," Maneki admitted in defeat. Upon hearing this, Rico grabbed Maneki in the polo shirt and shake him repeatedly while saying,. "What? Are you kidding me?! Why?" Rico then discharged himself from shaking Maneki.

"I...I...I'm sorry, Titus," Maneki admitted in apology. Calming down, Rico replied, "It's okay. It's okay. Let's just turned back." Maneki then nodded in agreement, and he and Rico then turned back, trying to go back to the camp.

"Man, it's getting darker and late," Maneki commented. His Pokémon then responded in plain.

"Yeah, right," Rico replied. His two Pokémon then responded in a mix of worry and plain. They then turned on their flashlights in order to see through the dark. Moments later, they encountered a wild Venipede and a Cottonee.

"Ah! A Poison-type!" Rico exclaimed in a quick, sudden fright; he then hid behind Maneki, as well as his Pokémon. In less than a minute, Rico slowly came out and checked in his Pokédex; his Pokédex then responded, "Venipede, the Centipede Pokémon. A Bug and Poison-type. Using the feelers on its head and tail, it picks up vibrations in the air to determine its prey's location and state."

"Okay, that's both cool and scary," Rico nervously commented. His two Pokémon then responded in mild stunning. The wild Cottonee then appeared from a tree and hovered above the group.

"Woah, who's that Pokémon?" Rico asked in stunning upon seeing Cottonee. He then checked in his Pokédex; his Pokédex then responded, "Cottonee, the Cotton Puff Pokémon. A Grass and Fairy-type. They go wherever the wind takes them. On rainy days, their bodies are heavier, so they take shelter beneath big trees."

"Wow, that's so cute," Rico calmly commented. The wild Cottonee then responded in happiness and greeting. Riolu, Piplup, Chespin, and Pidove then greeted it in happiness and friendliness, one by one.

Meanwhile, their school group are now start searching in the forest for them, shining their flashlights in the dark whilst calling their names and Pokémon.

Back at their location, the group sat down and shivered, both in chilling cold and in fear of being attack. Maneki covered himself in his large purple and yellow blanket, as well as his Pokémon; Rico, in the other hand, pulled up the hood of his jacket above his head and wrapped-hugged his Pokémon in embrace. They both shivered together as Noctowls uttered their owl sounds and full, white moon rose from the bright, night horizon. Then, comfort came. Two dozens more of Cottonees came from the trees and surrounded them with their warm, fluffy bodies, warming them. In response, the group saw opened their eyes, and realized they're being warmed.

"Wow, Cottonees?" Maneki commented in stunning. The Cottonees then softly responded in a cute voice.

"Wow, thanks, Cottonees," Rico happily replied.

"Ri-olu, Ri," Riolu happily responded.

"Ches-pin," Chespin happily added.

"Piplup, Piplup," Piplup added while smiling in comfort. And so, they were warmed through the night.

Meanwhile, their school group are still searching for them. They then spotted footsteps of them.

"Is that their footsteps?" Santiago asked in commenting.

"I think so," one of them answered him.

"We must follow these," their teacher responded seriously, "They must be theirs." She and her group then continue walking in searching for them.

After much searching, they finally found Rico, Maneki, and their Pokémon, as well as their sack of firewood and berries. The shining light from their flashlights caused the warming Cottonees to let go from warming the group. Upon feeling that the warmth was gone, Rico, Maneki, and their Pokémon opened their eyes and see their school group in surprise. Their teacher rushed to them and hugged them in embrace and relief.

"Rico! Maneki!" she responded in tears, "Where have you been? We thought we lost you."

"Sorry, teacher, we're just getting wood for our campfire and...," Rico answered her in desperate, "...we got lost and went too far."

"It's... It's my fault we got lost," Maneki admitted in sad remorse, "I'm sorry, teacher." Calming down, their teacher then responded, "It doesn't matter; all it matters that all of you are safe." They shed tears in a mix of sad and happiness.

Later, at 7:09 p.m., at the campfire ground, everyone are having a dinner around the campfire along with their Pokémon. Most are grilling and roasting food on grillers and the campfire. Rico and Maneki are having roasted potatoes and smores, just as promised in the bus earlier. Everyone chatted to each other, talking about their day and life. Others, meanwhile, are drinking and sharing drinks like water and juice. Their Pokémon are eating their special food whilst chatting to each other. Later, there are music made by various instruments, and more than half of them dance and hold hands around the campfire while others clapping their hands in applause. It was a fun night, like a celebration of a festival.

And as they are having fun, Blue Ninja and his two Pokémon are standing on a branch of a tall tree, looking at them in fierce and seriousness, with an approval.