The Warrior Moth

Sigrid: The Warrior of All Moths
I’ve never been afraid of the dark — or so I thought. Growing up, my parents always warned me about the shadows beneath my bed; the rustling leaves outside my window, and the webs that clung to the corners of my room. Little did I know that those shadows and rustles concealed a world unseen in which Sigrid, the warrior of all moths, reigned.
It was a moonless night when I first encountered her. The suffocating darkness cloaked my bedroom, shrouding everything in obsidian. I placed my head beneath the covers to escape the encroaching night, convinced that safety lay within that surrounding warmth. That was before I felt the tingling sensation creeping across my skin, almost as if something unseen was observing me. I peeked from beneath my blanket, heart pounding, and that’s when I saw her.
Sigrid materialised in the dim light filtering through my window. She was like nothing I had ever seen: a beautiful and terrifying creature. Her body was adorned in hues of brown and green with iridescent purple that shimmered like starlight. Her bat-like wings unfurled gracefully, each flick revealing more of her splendour. And those eyes — oh, those eyes! Sigrid possessed a gaze so piercing it felt like they could see into the very fibres of my being, pulling at my soul.
A peculiar croaking noise escaped her frog-like vocal sac, echoing through the silence of my room. “Fear not, young one,” she intoned, her voice a blend of roughness and melody. “For I am Sigrid, guardian of the moths. This night is my domain.”
I blinked, grappling with the reality of conversing with a creature from the realms of fantasy – a warrior dedicated to the protection of moths, no less. “Why are you here?” The question slipped from my lips before I could second-guess myself. 
Sigrid’s antennas twitched as if picking up on the faintest vibrations of trouble. “Evil spirits prowl the night, seeking to harm the moths that flutter from their homes to mine,” she explained. “The fairies of Ejedore can be mischievous, but I worry about the lurking shadows – cats, any predators who yearn for the fragile beings under my care. Come, I have much to show you.”
Her wings flared, and suddenly, my surroundings shifted. I was no longer in my bedroom; I found myself hovering in a vast garden. Moths danced in the air, their delicate forms shimmering against the twilight. Sigrid flew ahead, her presence commanding the attention of every creature in sight. 
“This garden is my sanctuary, where moths thrive safe from harm,” Sigrid proclaimed, pointing to a cluster of blossoms. “But danger is always lurking. The more I protect them, the stronger they become, connecting the seen and unseen worlds.”
I followed her lead as she delicately pointed out different moth species, their powdery wings gliding in vibrant colours I had never imagined existed. “I have lived long enough to witness the nights darken, to feel the pulse of fear in the air,” she said wistfully. “Evil prowls when the light fades, and it is my responsibility to face it, to guard the moths and perhaps teach them courage.”
Her words resonated with something deep inside me. I remembered the nights I’d cowered with my blanket tightly around me. If Sigrid could face her fears, perhaps I could embrace the darkness rather than flee from it. My heart raced as she turned to me, her gaze holding an unspoken challenge.
“Will you help me?” Sigrid asked, her voice urgent. “The spirits are strong tonight. I need someone brave to join me in this battle.”
I hesitated, recalling every cautionary tale I had ever heard. But the thought of Sigrid, so fearless in her mission, ignited a surge of courage I didn’t know I possessed. “Yes,” I breathed, “I will help you.”
As we resumed our flight, I felt exhilarated and terrified. We glided through the limited moonlight, searching and watching. Suddenly, there was a rustling sound—a shadow flicker darted behind a lavender cluster. Sigrid’s antennas twitched, pointing directly to the source. “There! The predator lurks. Are you ready?”
With a nod, I felt the adrenaline race through my veins. The lurking shadows coalesced into a sleek, black cat, its eyes glinting like obsidian shards. I remembered Sigrid’s warning and stared deep into the cat's gaze, unwilling to be cowed by its icy demeanour. 
Sigrid sprang into action, her vocal sac pulsating as she emitted a warning croak, reverberating like a battle cry. The cat paused, startled, but its predatory instincts took over. With a deft flick of her wings, Sigrid unleashed the dark purple jelly smile from her eyes, entwined around the cat, transforming it into a gelatinous form. The black orbs that rose and twisted from the jelly swarmed about, disorienting the creature even more. 
The scene was surreal yet filled with a sense of power. Sigrid had turned the tables, battling the darkness with resilience and grace. We thwarted a predator together, and I felt my fear subside — replaced with a sense of purpose.
When the battle had ended, and the cat transformed into a harmless blob, Sigrid turned to me, her wise eyes shimmering. “You’ve done well, young warrior. The spirits will retreat tonight. The moths will flourish.”
As dawn approached, I found myself back in my room, the first light of morning creeping through my window. A new resolve filled my heart, a sense of magic thrumming in the air. 
I had ventured into the unseen and held my own. Sigrid was more than just a guardian; she had shared her strength and purpose. That night, I learned that darkness could be faced, and perhaps I, too, could become a keeper of light amidst it. 
From then on, I kept a window open each night, letting the moths flutter in, knowing their protector was near — and perhaps, a friendship with a creature brave enough to transform fear into strength.