I'm sure that Malik's discovery of the bald patches are his first indications that Altair isn't coping well. But he's helping with the preening! And I never thought about Malik making pillows out of the down. :D (Poor pigeons don't know what to make of Altair, do they?)

And this is an amazing, well written fic, writeanon! You deserve all the praise for it! >:D