Arabella darted out of the poor excuse for a house, the sound of glass breaking echoing behind her. She raced down the cracked sidewalk and off down the road. Only when it felt like each breath she took felt like knifes stabbing her lungs and her side was about to burst did the girl stop running. She rubbed at the tears pooling in her eyes and looked around at her surroundings. Her eyes alighted on a picture hanging outside a shop and she stepped closer to investigate. [i]What a beautiful painting.[/i] She thought as she absenmindly reached out one small hand and softly touched the painting. The sound of rushing wind surrounded her and she squeezed her eyes shut when it felt like she was falling. Her body was tense in preperation for impact of the ground but when none came and she felt herself softly settling on the ground she cautiously peeked her eyes open. As she took in her surroundings they flew open wide as she stared around in surprise and wonder. [i]Am I dreaming?[/i] She thought dazedly to herself.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Willow was perched on Sephiron's back, calmly gliding through the air. [i][b]"Shall we land soon Willow?"[/b][/i] His rumbling voice echoed through her mind and she nodded. [i][u]"Yes, I suppose we should; the new students should be arriving soon."[/u][/i] Her dragon nodded and tilted his wings to angle them towards the ground. They circled the castle for a few moments before the dragon landed in the courtyard. Willow slid down off of his back and stroked his nose as she spied new students falling from the sky. She chuckled, remembering when she had first come to the Academy: She had been scared out of her wits.