Submission (#1535) Approved

Staring down the snow blanketing the forest outside of his little cottage, Mal contemplated many things. He wanted to do something this year, but he was so exhausted. He was old, much older than his friends thought or wanted to believe when he told them jokingly.
Hearing the soft noises his crows were making, he turned to look at his companions.
“what’s wrong little ones?” his deep voice rumbled, watching as his little companions hopped over to him to snuggle up.
He hummed, stroking over the soft feathers of one of his little crow companions.
“it seems this will be a cold winter this year….” He murmured, hearing the soft ‘wa’ noises echo around him from his crows as they snuggled him.
“precious ones. How about some nice warm tea? Sound good?” Mal received enthusiastic chirps from his little ones.
As mal was heating up some tea, there was a knock at his door. Sighing, the elder terra trudged over to his door and swung it open, looking down to see his gaggle of friends. Daere held up an upside-down pineapple cake, Haima and Cyro held up booze, Garoka in their small form smiled sweetly up at him and offered him their famous homemade bird treats that his crows loved, earning enthusiastic ‘wa’ noises from his companions as they flew right towards their favorite guest.
“you guys didn’t have to come….” He murmured, sullenly.
“yeah but we did, so suck it up.” Garoka teased playfully, walking up to mal to pat his thigh gently as they trotted inside the house while cooing over his crows.
Daere chuckled and leaned up to brush some stray hairs from mal’s visor.
“we weren’t going to just leave you all alone Mal, you don’t deserve to be alone.” The bird terra chuckled, making a warm feeling bloom in Mal’s chest.
“thank you, all of you.” He said softly, following them inside the house where they began cooking together, chatting about their future plans for the year and how they’d spend their holidays together.
Mal felt happy, watching his friends sit around his table and chat with one another made him really happy.
Maybe it wasn’t so bad, maybe even after he’d lost zeus, maybe…. Maybe things would be okay. He had friends now.
Watching his friends sing songs of the past, singing of the future together, laughing while Cyro sang of his adventures in his deep voice while Garoka laughed and switched forms to join in, their voices singing in perfect harmony while Daere and Haima danced merrily together.
‘are you proud of me my love? I’m finally making friends, those ties you told me to never lose im holding on for you…’ mal was finally at peace.