Short Stories

The Moon, The Moth, The Eclipse

(Slight warning that this chapter doesn't directly talk about religion but it does have a vague theme of a goddess)

    The light. The reason I believe. I stare up at the low glow of the large star in the sky, who we call our goddess. The Light. She is the moon, the protector of the Moth family. My compound eyes wide, I can't help but admire her beauty. Her dimples make it seem like she is always smiling, as if to say she can comfort me. She is like a non-existent hug that I can never feel but I know is there. But I had to question, who was she really? Has she ever truly existed in any way shape or form? I have only heard of her from word of mouth from my friends and family. Was it truly a moth's duty to celebrate The Light? A soft breeze jostled the leaf I stood on upon as I stared into the star-dusted sky. The leaf moved more as someone else landed behind me.

    "Hey Rune! I have been looking for you everywhere. You went missing on us for a moment." A soft voice spoke as they walked up behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder as their white fur shone in the soft light.

    "Oh...yea, sorry about that. I wanted to make peace with The Light. Her beauty is gorgeous tonight so I had to admire her." I said as I looked at the other moth. It was Jasper, they are a good friend of mine that I have known for a long time. I have known them since my silkworm days, so they mean more to me than anyone else.

    'But who is she really...I can't help but wonder...is The Light truly our savior?' I thought to myself before Jasper spoke again.

    "Ah! You are correct...her beauty is wonderful tonight. But no more dawdling! We have a feast to get to. You can't forget that today is the day we must celebrate new moths emerging from their cocoons!" Jasper said enthusiastically as they turned around, throwing their arms up in the air excitedly.

    Gracefully they slid down the leaf from which I stood before they took off into the forest grove. I followed swiftly behind Jasper, making sure not to lose sight of my friend in the leaves that protrude out from every side. Today was the feast of The Light, it is a celebration of both birth, death and finding love. Our lifespans are short so we have to find ways to celebrate and make it meaningful. I knew my time was coming soon so I had to keep my hopes up and not waste what time I had left. While Jasper led the way I couldn't help but admire them. I have always loved their wings, a black upside down cross that has been passed down the Clymene family for Centuries. Truly unique in a world of thousands of different and colorful moths.

    That's when I saw it. The soft golden glow and smell of flowers and fruit guided us closer to the feast. Jasper and I landed quietly and safely in the crowded area full of friends and family. It was a sight to behold, small lanterns that were hung on strings of silk between sticks glowed with fireflies. The larvae inch around with dandelions in their mouths to showcase that they are celebrating with everyone else. Moths of all kinds talked in a lively manner about their recent feats with friends they haven't seen in a while. I couldn't help but smile to myself as I watched everyone bustle around.

    "It's amazing isn't it?" Jasper said with a grin, holding two flower cups and some pieces of fruit in their four arms. Jasper gave me a cup of red rose filled with nectar and a piece of apple which I accepted and held in two of my arms. "I can't believe it's a full moon tonight, we truly get to see The Light at her highest grace."

    "Yea...yea. The Light is truly beautiful..." I say hesitantly, thoughts of doubt continue to plague my mind as I speak. "Well...I hope we can continue this way of life for years to come."

    "You said it! If someone told me The Light was nothing more than just a fantasy...I wouldn't know what to do with myself!" Jasper said, chuckling to themself.

    I only nodded as I listened to Jasper. I liked them, I really did. What if everything that we have been told is a fantasy? Then I chuckled to myself, what was I thinking...I should believe...this is the only thing I've ever known. Why should I doubt what the people closest to me have told? They are the only people I have ever known. I have heard of other collections of moth gatherings but I have never come across anyone else so far. That's when I heard it. A piercing noise that bounced off the leaves of the surrounding trees.

    'It can't be...no...no...no...today is supposed to be special! Why does one have to be hunting right now?!'

    Everything was now in a frenzy and I could barely process what was happening. Suddenly my chest tightened and I couldn't catch my breath. That's when I saw it. A large, dark, fuzzy figure crashed the festival. Everything in my body told me to run and fly away. It was a bat, one of our worst enemies. It crashed the festival, driving it into a chaos and terror filled night. I had to...I had to move or I would be killed...but I couldn't move. Why wasn't The Light protecting them? Why was she just watching them die to the mouth of a hunter who consumed us like water? Where was she?! My body felt like it was frozen in place as I watched in terror my friends and family get eaten, stumble over debris, or fly away to safety. Food was everywhere, torn wings rested on leaves and branches, half eaten larvae lay motionless on the ground as everyone tried to flee.

    I wanted to puke. The mess strewn about the green colored grass was disgusting. Heads, wings, legs, fur, all of it. A step backwards. That's all I could do before the bat stopped in the middle of the grove, its bulking figure emphasized by the brown fur and leaves that are the same size as it. Slowly it turned around, chirping its hunting call as it slowly turned to face me. It's honed eyes looking straight through my soul as fireflies flew free from their wooden cages. The bat's dark eyes stared emotionlessly into me as if it was trying to size me up. My fear barely faded but something in me wanted...no...needed me to speak up. Yell!

    "What else do you want?! You have come to eat us for your breakfast, destroying a special tradition. Here! In this grove!" I yelled, my voice trembling from the fear as I stared back at the bat. The bat didn't speak. The silence in the air hummed as I awaited an answer from this monster. The longer and longer I waited, mere seconds feeling like they would drag on for another hour if I just stood there.

    "You. Silk Moth of this grove." Said the bat in a deep but somehow soothing tone. Its mouth barely moving to match its words as it spoke. "You stand before me after watching me consume your friends, family, and acquaintances. You see them dead here. How can someone like you believe in your great protector if she couldn't even protect them against me? All of you moths are the same...you want to believe in "The Great one", or "She Who Shines". It's just a bunch of lame, lousy sounding, brainwashing, propaganda that you have believed since you were a Pupae. Before the end of your already incredibly short life. Let me tell you something before you die. Look at her, that round thing in the sky, whatever you might call her. She is only a floating rock. Made of nothing but ROCK." The bat hissed, striking more terror into my heart as I listened.

    Slowly I looked down at my hands, out of fear for my life I crushed the rose cup and apple piece. Leaving nectar and sweet juices of the apple dripping down my arms, making my fur matted to my exoskeleton. I don't know if I can believe what the bat said, it's just a hunter that killed friends, family, and acquaintances. But I was skeptical of The Light. She hadn't protected any of them...I have never heard her voice...nothing. What else was there to do but reluctantly listen to the bats words

    "...Have I changed your mind? Has your heart been swayed? If not...then I will leave you be, let your dreams fade to darkness. But if I ever find you again, you're going to be fed to my children." The bat threatened and took off into the forest. His wings as silent as a leaf landing on snow.

That's when I looked upwards, to a break in the trees and up to her grace. Something I have known my entire cycle and have only now had doubts. The Light, stripped down to her core, was nothing more than something meaningless that I wanted to believe in. Why was I told she would protect us in danger? Why was I told that she would keep us all warm and safe?

Why?