Chapter 44 - 44 - Starly, the Cute and Scared Pokémon

After some rest, Rico went downstairs to eat lunch, which is steaming hot and fresh. His Pokémon followed him all the way down to the dining room. His parents are already waiting for him to come out. So, once Rico sat down, they all eat up with joy and calm. Their Pokémon are eating their special food together as well.

"Hey, mom," Rico asked breaking the silence.

"Yes, sweetie?"replied his mother.

"Did you heard about a storm coming by tomorrow?" Rico asked her a question. His hair was a little messed up after the power nap.

"Well, uh..." Rosario answered while thinking, "I checked the weather update this morning and I think it is, by tomorrow at 5 in the morning."

"Oh, I see then," replied his son. "Well, mom and dad, I was really worried and anxious about tomorrow, because, it will ruin our fun for Christmas then, and.... "

"Don't worry, Rico, we'll pass it," Lucas responded quickly with encouragement for his son. "Besides, it usually happens on Christmas season almost every year."

"Oh! How I forgot about that!" Rico replied back in realization. He then stand up with a positive outlook, and responded back, "You're right, dad, we can do it, even it is windy nor with power outage."

"Now that's the spirit, son!" exclaimed his father in positive outlook. Rico then sat down back and resumed eating. The ropes of anxiety and doubt are now cut off with the dagger of encouragement and bravery.

Shortly after lunch and helping his mom washing dishes, Rico went to the forest next to the sandy beaches with his Pokémon, and they lie down on the grassy surface, looking at the sun and the sailing clouds towards the east. The trees are being blown by the winds; the palm trees are swayed by the winds; the waves are getting a bit bigger and slamming against the shores in swift, yet forceful speeds. Most of the Pokémon living there are in normal state, but the residents there, mostly dwelled in wooden huts and small houses, are paranoid of the upcoming storm, so they pack up and move to a regional evacuation center far from their home and to the elevated part of the city. Upon seeing the young kid and his team, some people tried to warn him about the upcoming storm, but Rico ignored them, saying that the storm will come tomorrow. In response, the inhabitants near the shores didn't do anything in contempt, and just leave him and his Pokémon alone.

The doors of the houses are locked tight and closed; the tree branches above the roofs had been cut down prior to their evacuation; and the windows, holes, and vulnerable parts of the homes are shut with wooden planks and other hard and rigid materials; and the boats are left behind, tied to strong wooden poles with strong ropes. Gardens are left behind as well, but most are shielded with roofings of plastic and wooden planks and with sacks of sand to prevent it from being flooded. Community stores and restaurants are closed and deserted due to evacuation.

"I can't believe a storm will come and wreck havoc upon us," Rico thought in commentary. "Another storm this Christmas season...." But before he could continue thinking as he resist the winds and the clouds getting a bit darker and heavier, Rico and his team suddenly heard some Pokémon birds chirping in fear in the distance. In response, they got up and checked out what noise is that, only to be led to an old shack not too far from the village. Upon discovering the origins of the noise, Rico and his team stumble upon a group of Starlys gathered around on the cold ground shivering and fearing the winds and the sound of the waves. They were five of them inside the shack's one tiny room, with bȧrėly any lighting through the windows and the broken roof. Their homes are being blown away by the winds, so they gathered up in a tiny shack. They had a little supply of food for a few days or so.

"Woah, a bunch of Starlys!" Rico commented in a low voice. Riolu and Piplup then responded with pity and concern. Rico then approached the desperate Pokémon and touched the head of one of them softly with concern for them.

"Hey, are you scared?" Rico asked it softly. Upon feeling being touched, one of them turned its head and responded with fear, saying how they were afraid to get out and seek safer places.

"Oh, that's sad," Rico replied with concern. "Can I help you to move out?" But Starly responded with decline, saying that it and the others will be fine in that shack, though it is vulnerable to destruction. Still concerned by this, Rico tried to persuaded them to come with them, but they kept declining and declining due to fear to the current situation in the outside. Finally, Rico and his team had enough and just leave them alone, as the wind speeds climbed bit by bit. Will the Starlys change their minds?

By 2:18 p.m., Rico and his team went to the mall to buy a gift for his uncle. The gift is: a red long-sleeve, buŧŧoned, shirt for 100 Pokédolllars. It was cheap, but Rico was wise in spending.

Less than half an hour later, they went home to help out his mother baking cookies for the season. It was a spirit of cooperation.

Later at evening, by 7:10 p.m., at home, Rico and his parents are having dinner while watching the weather news on TV. Their Pokémon are with them, eating their special food. It is raining very heavily, with the sounds of rain hitting the objects outside, and rolls of thunder can be heard outside. But fortunately, the lights are still on, and it seems to be nothing but heavy rains and thunders. Winds are stronger than before.

"This storm will make its landfall on the town of Baran this midnight," the weather reporter on TV announced, "and on the city of Kawayan by tomorrow at 5. Be sure to pack up and evacuate to the nearest evacuation center." As the news went on and on, Rico commented to his parents, "Wow, I think it's getting heavier and stronger tonight." Riolu and Litleo then responded in commentary.

"Yeah," Lucas responded back. "We have to be prepared just in case the evacuation announcement comes."

"Be sure to pack up tonight before going to bed," Rosario reminded her son. "Okay?" Rico then silently nodded to say yes, replying, "Okay, mom."

Later by 9:50 p.m., as the winds are now stronger than a few hours ago and can blow some objects like wooden planks and pieces of roofs, Rico was lying on his bed while looking at the ceiling in the dark room. His Pokémon had been asleep almost an hour ago. But he couldn't sleep, as if he had insomnia. In reality, he had a fear about the storm coming.

"The winds are getting stronger than before," he thought. "I can't even sleep. I hoped Kolen and Professor Campillo are okay, in their homes. But, I'll try to sleep." Then, with a peace in mind, Rico closed his eyes and slept peacefully. But, what will happen tomorrow? A flash flood? Surge of high winds? Perhaps both. Tomorrow will be full of disasters.