Warm splashes of light spilled across River's face, and she slowly opened one eye to peer at whoever moved the leaves of the bush she had been napping under. Her father's, Mikael, face came into view, his kind blue eyes twinkling with excitement and a big lopsided smile on his face. "River, we're taking you there today! We got an email from that lady, she has the Painting in her shop." He said brightly, extending a hand to help River up. River clapped her own hand against his forearm and he hauled her up easily with his muscular arms. She was smiling now, too. "Really?! YES! Let's go!" River exclaimed, thrusting an arm into the air as she leaped over plants and under branches in her jungle-like backyard.
Only twenty minutes had passed as River slung her tote-bag over her shoulder, ready for her trip to the Academy. She wasn't fussed with looking pretty, so she didn't pack many variations of clothing, but she did have her favorite bandana tied across her head to keep her unruly hair in place. And, for once she actually wore shoes, instead of going barefoot like usual. She meant to give a good first impression, or at the very least a passable impression, on her new Headmistress. She braided her long tress of hair and tied it with a simple hairband. For some reason, that particular spot of hair at the back of her head, near the nape of her neck, would grow back over night, no matter how short she cut it. And always to her calves, where it would stop growing. It was strange, and made her look like she had an especially long mullet coming from the back of her head.
She looked up as her other father, Hayden, walked into the room, dressed like he was prepared for a hike. "You ready, hun?" He asked, sounding somewhat sad, as he looked at his daughter with somber brown eyes. River didn't appear to notice Hayden's sadness, she was too excited to pay much attention on anything except for the Academy, for she said, "Oh my glob! Yes, I am!" and gave him double peace signs as she grinned widely. Her father gave her a sad smile, putting an arm around River's shoulder as they walked out of the room and down to the car where Mikael was already waiting. She rambled on and on excitedly about the Academy, what she would do at it, how much fun she would have, what kind of friends she would make, as they drove her into the city to where the Painting would be.
The shop that they arrived at looked like a very plain, normal bookstore from where River stood in the doorway. She was alittle disappointed, until the lady they were supposed to meet came out of the backroom at the far end of the room, accompanied by the rattle of the many beads hanging in the doorway. The lady wore a flowing kimono, butterflies embroidered in violet atop the pristine white silk. She had long black hair flowing down her body, and amber colored eyes. In one hand she held a long smoking pipe, which she was puffing purple tinted smoke out of, the other hand was gesturing them to follow her into the back room. Hayden and Mikael looked at eachother over their daughter's head apprehensively, but River's face was alight with wonderment. She nearly leapt across the room in her haste, but was pulled back by two strong pairs of hands and forced to walk behind her fathers as they followed the strange lady.
Finally, the silence was broken when they pushed aside the beads and stood to face a gigantic circular room with pedestals lining the walls, each holding a different priceless artifact. At the far side of the room, directly across from the beaded doorway, was a pedestal that held the Painting. The lady in the kimono stopped next to it, smiling back at her guests as she let out puff of smoke in the shape of a dragon. "My dear gentlemen, please allow your daughter to touch upon the painting when you have said your goodbyes. She will be transported to Cadwell's thusly." The lady spoke in a sultry voice, her amber eyes seeming to stare into her guest's minds.
Hayden and Mikael turned to River, and they huddled into a group hug. Mikael was excited, Hayden somber, as they let River go. "Learn to be a magical girl over there, okay River?!" Mikael squeaked out, and wiped the tears forming at the corners of his eyes. Hayden furrowed his brow, putting a hand on River's shoulder. "You can always come back if you need to. Don't be afraid to come home, we love you." Hayden said, pulling her in to a tight hug. "I will, I promise!" She said into his chest, smiling. She felt tears forming in her eyes, but she quickly blunk them away. When Hayden let her go, Mikael bent to place a kiss on her forehead as he wept openly.
She walked across the room, the journey seeming to take an eternity, as she stole glances back at her fathers. She nearly bumped into the lady in the kimono, who stood staring at River pensively. "I sense you have affinities for the earth and air, witchling. Be sure to focus on your weaknesses, lest you find yourself in a precarious way." The lady said, smiling down at River. Somehow, River didn't seem to think that smile was supposed to be comforting. She cautiously placed her hand upon the painting, not knowing what to expect.
The world seemed to turn upside down as she was sucked through the Painting and popped into existence in mid-air. She was falling, she realized with a start. "OH MY GLOB! THIS. IS. AWESOME!" River shouted in exhilaration as she whirled through the sky. She barely looked down in time to see the tree she would land in. All of the sudden, a gust of wind propelled her away from the oncoming tree, and set her down in the grass gently.
"That was the best globbing thing ever." River breathed out, her hair poking out wildly from under her bandana and her green eyes wide.
