Adult Female
Name: unnamed
Species: Zabyna's Solar Maalas
Birthday: Sunday, December 25, 2022
Owner: kitsunefire
Element: Neutral 
Zabyna's maalas are less energetic once they reach adulthood. They still love to play fetch, catching the sticks midair and excitedly returning with them for another round. As their names suggest, the lunar adults are more active during nighttime, while the solar adults are active during day time. Unfortunately, they need plenty of attention, which turns training and grooming the maalas into exhausting tasks. However, the maalas love to be groomed. The fine scales that cover their wings need to be removed constantly, as the maalas' wings would become too heavy otherwise. Also, if the maalas don't drink enough water, the scales grow in fewer numbers, preventing the creatures from flying. The scales have high magical properties that increase the effect of simple healing potions tenfold when mixed with them. Those who oversee the adult maalas send shipments of scales to the Keep regularly. In return, many magi volunteer to help care for the maalas, even if just for a few weeks.
Named after their main caretaker, Zabyna, the maalas live exclusively in the Solnis' Ruins. As big as a man's forearm, maalas feed on the figs and dates that grow in these ruins. Unlike others of their kind, these creatures need to consume water to preserve the shine of their wings. For many years the maalas have been considered endangered, and only through Zabyna's toil did these creatures survive. The maala adults care little about their eggs. As the hatchling develops inside the egg, the shell has to be kept moist at all times. Otherwise, the hatchling would dry out and die before being ready to hatch. As they have little interest in bringing water to the eggs, most of their young don't survive the scorching desert days. The maalas lay their eggs on the ground, an easy meal for lazy predators. Keeping the eggs safe from predators as well as moist is an exhausting task. However, Zabyna cares for them tirelessly and assures the species' survival, for its magic is too valuable.
Sprite art: Mysfytt (adult) | Description: Real