LU 207 - Tori 16

A warm fire illuminates what used to be the brilliantly glowing cavern around the core of Morpheus, replacing the once blinding illumination with a softer, flickering light.
Next to the fire sit two soul condors in each other's arms, watching the flames dance and crack as Tori recalls his adventures with his mate.
"I'd like to meet them."
"Who?"
"The people you met here. I can't leave this place, but they can come to me, right?"
"Love, I don't know if that's a good idea." 
The older, more weathered bird frowns, his arms tightening around his partner, wings wrapping around them protectively.
"I want to know more about this world. I love being with you again, but we aren't in our home realm anymore-"
"It's not safe, Love." 
Tori rests his head on Love's, the empty smell of death still lingering in their hair.
"Why not? You said they were your friends." 
Caught up in his web of lies, Tori sighs, closing his eyes to imagine the two of them are in their first nest again.
"I'll see what I can do." Love grins, leaning further into her mate's embrace. "But if I feel you're in danger, you'll let me protect you, okay? I can't lose you again, Love."
"I will. I promise."
"Good." Tori nods. "Our kids will need their mother when they hatch."
In their nest with a fire and Tori's jacket laid over them sit seven teal-speckled eggs and one red-speckled one in the middle.