LU 196 - Tori 15

Grief, as one experiences it, grows, changes, and evolves. No matter what form it takes, it is a trauma; it never dissipates. Grief plants itself in the mourning's brain, taking root in the darkest crevices of one's thoughts. Similar to a weed, if one tends to this trauma, pulling it out at the roots, and the flowers previously affected have enough time to heal, the garden of one's thoughts may be able to grow over and forget these weeds until they are left to sprout again.

To mourn is for species with the ability to love another enough for a being to want to grow close. As a creature with no promise of safety, even before they leave their eggs, soul condors have adapted to their reality; they do not mourn for their dead, even those capable of love.

Despite his species' habits, Tori, in the eyes of some, has been grieving his whole life. Since he could fly, the bird mourned for the love his family could not provide for him and the life he could have had if they could. He grieved his neighbors and siblings when they didn't return to their nests at the end of a hunt and for the distant cries that would echo from the caverns of his home.

When Tori met his mate, even at their young age, he could not grieve anymore. The weeds growing in the ruins of the bird's garden had overtaken the once flourishing ecosystem, stealing the nutrients from the soil until it could not rejuvenate. At least, that's what he thought.

Every waking second of his life without his mate, Tori mourned the one being capable of loving him back, desperate to experience what it feels like to be loved a second more.

Now, as the bird approaches Morpheus once again, his heart races, filling with hope for the first time in centuries.

*"Welcome back, Tori."*

Too impatient to make small talk, the condor jumps straight to the point, asking Morpheus why she summoned him.

*"Our deal..."*

Having slowed down two group members working to take down the trees, Tori had fulfilled his end of their deal.

Deep underground, next to the core of Morpheus, a small portal opens to let a soul out from limbo to see their mate.

*"My love..."*

Reunited, the two birds embrace each other, tears beginning to well up in Tori's eyes as his wings engulf them, creating a wall between them and the world.

Talking over each other at a rhythm the condors seem to have mastered, they tell each other about their journeys, one leaving out a few *small* details.

*"Let's go home, okay?"*

Eager to be alone together, the soul condors fly to the surface hand in hand as the sun hits Love's skin for the first time.

And for a moment, everything seems perfect, but in Tori's life, one step forward always comes with ten steps back.

*"Darling, I don't feel well-"*

The newly revived condor collapses into her mate's arms, almost visibly fading as she looks up at him.

Tori carries Love back down to Morpheus' core, the weaker bird beginning to regain energy as they grow closer to the portal she came through.

*"I don't mind staying here with you, but it might not be safe for long..."*

Exhausted, the mates sit, Love in Tori's arms as they look up at the core.

*"Morpheus, is there any way you can maybe stop paying attention to us?"*

Confused, the tree agrees, and Tori stands, striking his sword against the wall, creating sparks that erupt into flames.

The soul condors embrace each other, smiling, finally together again at last.