The Moth

Wednesday May 5th

Dear Journal,

Today marks my first day in the Dountry mountains. It took me five-hours to hike from the drop off through the dense pine forest to fire watch tower 3. The air here is thin with the scent of earth and pine needles, and the only sound accompanying me is the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. I love tower 3 its quaint, It sits atop a grassy meadow above the tree line at the top of Gourdan’s peak. I cannot wait to get settled. Friday they’re going to air lift in my commissary order and supplies. So I’ve got a few days to get the place clean. 

7:50pm

Radio check complete, watch tower cleaned and tonight is a beautiful night for star gazing. There’s a thin crescent moon barely over the horizon. I am filled with excitement and anticipation as I prepare for the summer fire season. This season will be one of reflection and renewal, miles away from the noise of the city.

Monday May 15th

Dear Journal,

First fire of the season! Tower 2 spotted smoke off the edge of Hammer Ridge. Its time to get to work. So on top of the weather reports for Central were to report the size of the fire. Hopefully its not a big one but its certainly early.

Saturday July 10th

Dear Journal,

Last night was amazing. I went outside after dinner to my stargazing spot on the grassy slope just south the cabin. the Perseid's meteors  are so clear from here it is amazing. The moon is surreal. An orange crescent, from the smoke from the Hammer Ridge fire finally starting to wain, in a dreamlike haze. It was the closest to being in a Bob Ross painting as it gets.

But then, I hear something that caught my attention. In the trees, I heard a giggle? And I swear I saw a large white shape fluttered drifting just out of focus, before vanishing into the dark. I don’t know if it was a trick of my imagination, or perhaps a big white bird? 

Tuesday July 16th 

Dear Journal,

The morning was serene, it rained overnight and the fog has an eerie stillness in the air. I spent the day checking equipment and surveying the surrounding terrain. Central says the Hammer Ridge fire finally considered contained and on the way out! The rain is nice but man it is humid up here. Looking forward to tonight. Rain brings out the fireflies at night.

Wednesday July 17th 

I have to write this down or I’ll forget. Last night I heard a gentle tapping against the window. Curious,  I looked out the tower window. In the moonlight, was a figure hovering just beyond my tower catwalk. A girl, fluttering on giant delicate moth wings, her body covered in soft, downy white fuzz. Shadows of black accentuated her form, she had long hair white hair. Shyly, she flitted back and forth,

She said she was drawn to the light within the tower. I couldn't not move, I couldn’t say anything. After a time that im sure was shorter than it felt, she fluttered away. I thought maybe it was just a weird dream but I found she left a dusting of white powder on the railing this morning. I don’t know if I should radio for doc. 

Sunday July 21st 

Dear Journal,

Tower 2 had a rescue team sent up to her. She couldn’t handle the isolation and radioed for doc. Made me think of how lonely it is up here. 

It has been several nights since the moth girl appeared. Despite the shock of that night, I keep peering out into the forest, searching for her, wishing to maybe talk to her? I’m not entirely sure it wasn't a dream. But occasionally out of the trees I think I hear that same giggle and the faint rustle of leaves. 

Thursday July 25th 

Dear Journal,

I’m not crazy! She came back. I was just about to go to bed after radio check-in and She was on the outlook. I thought she looked like a fairy at first but it was wrong. She has white fuzz all over her body. 6 arms and her face is beautiful. She has antenna and black lipstick? I don’t know if that’s just her lips but it looks like lipstick. It’s hard to comprehend one minute I look at her and she looks like shes just wearing a sweater then she turns and I see her… abdomen? She seems not to care that shes nude. I wonder if her fur is warm.

 I asked her where she came from and She said that when the moon is gone she comes by to feel safer. I think she smiled when I told her I had been looking in the forest for her. She wanted to know what the tower was. I told her about the firewatch and she smiled and started called me “ember”. 

Saturday July 27th

She came back again. Its cute that she calls me Ember. After talking for a while the wind changed direction and it got cold. I got us a blanket but I don’t think she needed it. She snuggled up close and her fur is so soft and warm! She doesn’t really have hands but more like claws. I forget shes more moth than I want to think. I don’t know how long we sat under the light of the tower. She leaned in to sniff me at one point and we started kissing. Well it may have started as kissing but we made out for a while.  

Late in the night She wanted to see the lights inside the tower. So we went inside and I turned on the lamp. She was so interested in everything but inside but I had to help her manage her wings through door ways. Her wings are delicate but she would turn her antenna to run through my hair. In the bedroom She knelled on my bed and looked at me with eyes that seemed to reflect the night. filled with mischief and allure.