Malks are a kind of Faerie, allied with the Winter Court.
Description
They are about the size of a bobcat (sixty or seventy pounds), with feline characteristics. They tend to be found in large groups of twenty or more. They possess a raspy speech with odd inflections and unsettling intonations. Like all faeries, they are vulnerable to iron. They also dislike fire. They mark their territories with scratches on the walls.[1]
"Malks are stronger than natural animals, quick, almost invisible when they want to be, and their claws are sharper and harder than surgical steel. I once saw a malk shred an aluminum baseball bat to slivers. And if that wasn't enough, they're sentient. Smarter than some people I know... They'll keep their word like any fae... if you can get them to give it in the first place. But think of how cats enjoy hunting, even when they aren't hungry. Think about how they toy with their prey sometimes. Then distill that joyful little killer instinct out of every cat in Chicago and pour it all into one malk. They're to cats what Hannibal Lecter is to people."[2]
Their voices are extremely unsettling when they speak.[3] They tend to run in packs of twenty to not be overpowered by adversaries.[4]
The name 'malk' probably comes from the word 'malkin,' which is an archaic word for a cat. Also, 'Grimalkin' (or 'Greymalkin') is the name of a cat-like Faerie creature in Scottish lore.
In the series
Summer Knight
- Main article: Summer Knight (novel)
In Summer Knight, Harry and Billy Borden were met and escorted to the Winter Lady, Maeve. [5]
"Heorot"
- Main article: Heorot
In "Herot", Harry creates an Illusion to get Gard and himself past a pack of malk by looking like malk. [6]
Cold Days
- Main article: Cold Days
In Cold Days, while at Thomas Raith's apartment Harry calls Cat Sith for a task—assigned to Harry as an assistant by Mab—and his voice deeply disturbs Molly Carpenter.[3]