A Zana is a powerful and benevolent fairy found in Albanian folktales who has similarities to the fairy tale concept of a "Fairy Godmother" as well as the Christian lore of guardian angels; envisioned as a beautiful forest spirit they would aid people who became lost or injured, especially children and could either act directly or indirectly to do so.
They were believed to be powerful enough that in some stories, they helped to bring life to fetuses in utero and bestow upon them great gifts such as dancing, beauty and luck; this was likely another reason they were especially protective of the young and innocent.
Despite their good nature like all fay, it was expected to treat them with respect, or they could inflict harm or curses upon evil or disrespectful people, though their tendency towards war was mostly directed to Muma Pădurii, an evil beldam who was everything the Zana were not; ugly, evil-minded and selfish (of course in some other tales she is a neutral creature who protects the forest alongside them, as is often the case with folklore).