Skidmark sat on the counter, taking an experimental bite of a jellybean tamale. It was crunchier than he’d hoped, and he wondered if it would go better with caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, or since it was a tamale something spicy, like cinnamon sauce. He pulled a green jellybean from the masa center and chewed on it thoughtfully.

  Noobkitty was adding garnishes and finishing touches to her pies, including four she made especially for GYOAT, who was far less likely to be tempted by a tamale when pie was present.

  “Why didn’t you just suggest Friendsgiving?” asked Skidmark, still pondering his jellybean.

  “Because I wanted to show appreciation and thanks for everything, and calling it Friendsgiving doesn’t actually avoid the awkward historical context. So I stuck with Thanksgiving,” she said with full candor.

  “You probably could’ve suggested something to Coro?en, like ‘The Feast of Friendship’ or something sappy like that.”

  “Maybe next year,” said the world.

  “Yeah, I was too focused on trying to make a tofurkey,” she sighed, placing the pies into her inventory for easy transport.

  In the kitchen with them, Grimblade was showing Grizzlebeard the proper steaming techniques for tamales, demonstrating how the corn husks should be folded to hold the filling.

  “I decided to ban tofurkey,” Coro?en suddenly announced.

  Noobkitty laughed, setting her hands on her hips. “Okay, why?”

  “You were more creative without it. I currently have cross channel viewers watching Fizzypop and ExpertBunny try each of the tamales. The sweet potato stuffing ones seem surprisingly good.”

  “They’re going to ruin their appetites,” said Noobkitty, her ears drooping slightly in disappointment.

  “Don’t worry. The admin shut off their fullness experience til the actual meal,” Coro?en clarified. “I do have something for you, though.”

  System Message:

  Enchantment “Fond Friendship” is in effect.

  For the next 12 hours, thoughts about friends will give you a warm feeling.

  “That’s so sweet of you, thank you, Coro?en,” said Noobkitty. She instantly felt a small, pleasant warmth spread through her digital body.

  Skidmark, unfortunately, spontaneously caught fire. The scent of burning corn husk briefly filled the kitchen as the tamale in his hand began to burn as well.

  The world sighed, and the fire instantly went out.

  System Message:

  Effect of “Fond Friendship” now only stacks up to ten.

  Noobkitty burst into laughter and proceeded to think of all her friends, both inside this world and the few outside it. She felt incredibly warm. She hugged the still slightly smoldering Skidmark, and he hugged her back, happy to share the feeling.

  Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  She looked to Grizzlebeard and Grimblade. “You boys done with the steamers?”

  “Aye, I think I can replicate these now. Of course, I’ll make proper ones eventually, with shredded pork, not this potatoes and candy beans nonsense,” said Grizzlebeard, wiping his hands.

  “We also made sweet ones, with fruits and jams!” teased Noobkitty. She knew the dwarf didn’t have much of a sweet tooth; it fueled their rivalry.

  “Admittedly, some of these might be tamales in spirit only,” said Grimblade, grinning. “My family would probably, um... have some things to say. But they’re not here, so corn and mashed potato tamales are a thing now.”

  “Maybe with some experimenting, I could make a shepherd’s pie tamale for the bar,” mused Grizzlebeard, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

  “I think my grandmother just died a second time,” Grimblade laughed. “Come on, let’s see how Celeste decorated the table.”

  Noobkitty had no idea where SisterQuery, whose real name was Celeste, had found a cornucopia horn, there might have been some admin oversight, but she had placed it beautifully in the center of the long table. The large horn was overflowing with the fresh fruits GYOAT had brought from his orchard. Towers of steam baskets kept the tamales warm, meticulously organized by theme and flavor.

  Noobkitty began placing her pies in their designated area. Looking at the table, she partially regretted not having more traditional side dishes, but every time she had tried to make something, green beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce, it had somehow ended up folded inside more tamales. Luckily, there was an impressive array of sauces, gravies, salsas, and spreads to go with the army of corn-wrapped goodness.

  When everything was set up, the group sat. The scents of warm, complex food filled the air.

  “Dear Lord,” began SisterQuery, respectful but slightly impatient. Most of the team bowed their heads in prayer. When the short blessing was done, plates began to be filled.

  Noobkitty’s inner warmth hadn’t faded as she watched her friends gather. Then she remembered. “Oh, um... how about we each say something we’re thankful for?”

  GYOAT chuffed, stepped forward to his first pie, and said,

  ?????????????????????????.

  The Yak then proceeded to bite enthusiastically into his first pie.

  “Well said, GYOAT,” said Fizzypop. “I am thankful for community and friends, and, taking a note from GYOAT, I am also thankful for sparkle effects.” They cast a minor spell, and their tamales sparkled with rainbow lights, because why not.

  “I am thankful for God and the blessing He gave me, to still enjoy the world with all of you,” said SisterQuery. Grimblade held her hand, and they shared the warmth of the world's enchantment.

  “I’m thankful to have friends that can’t leave,” half joked Grimblade, receiving a playful punch from SisterQuery on the shoulder.

  “I’m thankful to have people who like me in more than one world,” said Skidmark.

  ExpertBunny rubbed Skidmark’s back, taking her fiancée’s hand with her other. “I’m thankful to have a family,” she said, her warmth of friendship radiating to Noobkitty and Skidmark.

  “I’m thankful to be seen,” said Grizzlebeard, nodding profoundly. “All right, we built up to you, Kitty. What do you got?”

  “Performance anxiety,” she said with a nervous laugh. The team glared at her playfully.

  “I’m thankful for so much, for being alive, for having a home, a family, for having an amazing fiancée. I’m thankful for food, for warm kitchens, for excited customers. I could go on and on. Honestly, I’m amazed you guys could narrow down what you were thankful for.”

  There was laughter, and without hesitation, Skidmark broke the tension by digging into a wild berry tamale drizzled with caramel sauce. The meal officially began.

  Food was consumed, and of course, there were mountains of leftovers. The fullness enchantment did its work and began to make the team sluggish, groggy, and ready for a nap.

  SisterQuery and Grimblade dismissed themselves to “somewhere private.” Fizzypop announced they weren’t a “cute napper” and logged off. Despite all the food he’d eaten in-game, Skidmark logged off to eat in the real world, luckily, it would not be tamales.

  Grizzlebeard returned to his bar for a good snooze.

  The three who remained, GYOAT, ExpertBunny, and Noobkitty, were yawning widely.

  “So sleepiness is part of your holiday?” asked ExpertBunny.

  Noobkitty yawned and nodded. “One of the best parts. The after food nap.”

  ????????????, said GYOAT with his own enormous yawn.

  “GYOAT’s got the right idea,” said Noobkitty, petting the big Yak.

  The three walked to the mostly abandoned stable that had housed GYOAT for months. They gathered dry straw into a large, cozy pile, and GYOAT laid down first. The three each thought of their friends, shared the residual warmth of the world’s enchantment, and got cozy.

  GYOAT, of course, made the greatest, warmest pillow.

  And the three fell into a deep, food-based sleep.