I ran out the door as soon as I heard Celia agree to her leaving.
I needed to save the animals as soon as possible. It didn't seem possible but it was raining harder than before.
I ran past the house my boots caked in mud into the chicken and duck house.
The chickens were huddled against the wooden walls trying to get as far away from the water as possible.
The ducks however seemed to be enjoying themselves huddling by the door wanting to go outside to swim in my lake of a farm.
I grabbed the first chicken I saw. Her name was Dee and I had won many chicken festivals with her.
She was also the oldest of all my animals.
I shooed the ducks outside. I could save them all at once.
They loved to follow me especially since I had a bucket of their favorite food in my hand.
"Here ducks!" I called running through the water holding Dee over my head.
I quickly checked the horse stable.
Garret was gone.
'Well that's good' I thought. At least Celia had the sense to ride him to the villa.
I quickly closed the door and ran out of the farm.
How strange I must have looked, running down the main road towards the villa, four ducks following me, holding a chicken over my head and up to my heels in water.
But there was no time for that.
It took a while to get to the villa.
I was tired of running so far and it took everything I got to keep going.
As I walked up the steps as fast as I could I could see the gate to Romana's Villa ahead.
Happiness made me stronger as I went against the wind.
"Nicko!" A voice called.
Carter and Kai ran out of the safety of the gates to help me.
"Thanks guys..." I panted.
As soon as I dropped of the ducks and Dee and started down the steps again to get the cows, sheep and other chickens.
"Wait! Nicko! Where are you going?" Kai called.
"To get the other animals." I responded not stopping to turn around.
"We will help you!" Carter said.
This time I did stop. "Really?!"
Carter nodded. "Yes. You need those animals."
Kai ran down the steps after me as well as Carter.
Until a voice stopped us. "Carter! Don't you dare go into that storm."
We turned around.
There was Flora, hands on her hips scowling at us.
"Nicko! If you think you are taking my fiancée anywhere in that flood you are wrong."
I sighed. We were wasting time.
"Fine! Stay!" I yelled over the roar of the flood and the winds.
Kai and I ran down the steps with Carter following after us.
I could still hear Flora yelling in the distance.. "If he dies Nicko I am going to kick your ass!"