The Little Dancer on Pippa's Wall

Pippa the hedgehog kit curled into her mossy bed, and Ember the firefly lantern glowed soft and gold beside her pillow.

The room was dim and quiet, and Pippa liked it that way, most nights.

Then the night breeze slipped through the window, and the curtain lifted and swayed.

A shape slid across Pippa's wall, long and dark. She did not know what it was.

Pippa froze, and her small heart went quick, quick, quick.

She did not close her eyes. She watched the shape instead, and it watched back, still and waiting.

"I'm scared," Pippa whispered, and that was true, and it was okay to be true.

She pulled her blanket to her chin and squeezed her eyes shut tight.

But she could still hear the curtain rustle, so she peeked anyway.