Rivers and Runes

Chapter 1: Books and Thieves

Hi, Dragonfly Pines here!

This is my second fanfiction, and my first Owl House fanfic! This is not connected to my other story in the works, Dragonfly. I just really like The Owl House and had this idea rattling around in my brain for a while.

I don't own The Owl House, only Rio.

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"Don't worry sweetheart, I know you'll have fun."

It was my first day of third grade, and I had just moved schools. I was more nervous than I had ever been. I had always been the quiet one, compared to my high-energy classmates. I was the kid who would rather sit in the corner and read instead of run around in a loud game of tag. 

"I hope so."

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"Class! We have a new student!"

I stood in front of the class, frozen with fear. Why do they have to stare at me?

"Care to tell us a bit about yourself?"

My emerald green eyes barely peeked out from behind my long, copper curls"Hi... I'm Riona, Riona Cailleach... Um, I like books and drawing..."

The teacher smiled kindly. "Thank you, Riona. You can sit over there." She gestured towards a desk next to a girl with short brown hair and a dolphin-covered sweatshirt.

I moved to my seat, and took out my favorite book, the first Good Witch Azura. My deskmate's eyes widened.

"Oh my gosh, you like Good Witch Azura?! Those are, like, my favorite books ever! I'm Luz by the way. Luz Noceda." She held out her hand to shake.

I shook Luz's hand with a grin. "I think we're gonna be great friends."

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"And that's the end."

Luz and I were in the principal's office. Again. We had remained best friends for six years. We were the best and worst influences on each other. Luz helped me come out of my shell, but she also cultivated my chaotic side. I managed to talk Luz into toning down a lot of her crazy ideas, but I had way more creativity than I knew what to do with. For the most part, we balanced each other out. But there were some times...

"The end of what?"

"Our book report, Señora Noceda," I answered. 

The snake Luz was holding bit the Good Witch Azura doll in her other hand. "I think we knocked it out of the park," my chaotic best friend remarked.

"Your book report is why you two are in here." The principal didn't sound amused.

I heard some screams from behind us. Snakes were lunging at students left and right.

"Luz!" I scolded, "I told you not to bring backup snakes! Rubber ones would have been perfectly fine!"

Luz had the decency to look ashamed. "Oops. Sorry Rio. I guess I forgot."

"And what were you going to do with this?" Señora Noceda held up a bundle of firecrackers.

"That was for the Act Three closer." Now it was my turn to look ashamed. I should've realized that fireworks would've gotten us in trouble again.

Señora Noceda shook her head, in a mix of exasperation and disbelief. "Mija, Rio, I love your creativity, but it's gotten out of hand. Do you remember why you two were in the principal's office the last three times?"