The first thing he saw when opening his eyes were another pair of golden eyelights opening to meet his own. For a long time, purple and gold simply stared at one another in wonder. Their shared bond pulses with magic and warms their newborn souls. A strong soul-bond has been tied around their hearts even before they came into existence.
     The two lie on their sides curled around one another. A bed of green leaves cushion their forms in a nest made high in the depression of a massive tree. The wind rustles the leaves above and makes the shadows dance. The nest is nestled in an almost flat dip created by the forks of incredibly thick branches. The cozy nook feels safe and closed off from the rest of the world with the ground being a dozen feet below.
     The purple-eyed monster can't seem to look away from the other. He makes a small move to grab their hand, but hesitates. The gold-eyed monster is quick to connect their hands.
     "I-", gold cuts himself off when he's startled by the sound of his own voice. Both of their surprise and then excitement shuffles back and forth across the bond. "You're my brother," gold says with a smile.
     "I'm your brother," purple says back with his own shy smile. His eyes drift away for a moment to the protective boughs around them. "This is our mother." The branches around them creak softly.
"And- And my name is Dream," gold states happily. He wiggles a little just like an over-excited puppy.
"My name is....... I am Nightmare," purple mumbles with a bit less enthusiasm. The name is his. It feels important and a pillar of who his is, but Nightmare isn't completely sure that he likes his name. The momentary gloom is washed away by a pulse of fondness from the soul connected to his own.
"I like your name," Dream smiles reassuringly, "We're a matching set!". Half of the pair's conversation seems to exist purely between their souls. Nightmare doesn't need to respond with words when his own gratitude and appreciation are conveyed straight through their bond. Still holding hands, the two of them sit up in the nest of leaves and shuffle over the one side with an open edge.
"It's a long way down...." Dream says, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy.
"It's okay," Nightmare says, sending Dream reassurance. "Look at this little hollow! We can climb down." Small knobs, depressions, and even a few tiny branches go down the tree's length in an unnaturally organized fashion.
"Thank you, mom!" Dream exclaims happily while glancing up into the canopy. His outgoing, adventurous, and curious nature draw him close to the edge. Before long, Dream is carefully beginning his descent to the ground.
Nightmare hesitates to follow. He feels protected while lovingly cradled in his mother's boughs. From here the world he can see outside seems so...... big. The comforting string of magic wrapped around his soul tugs him forwards. Nightmare doesn't feel so worried knowing Dream will always be right beside him. With his own excitement beginning to grow, Nightmare hurries after his brother.
The large valley they live in is hemmed in by mountains on two sides and a great forest on the other. Mountain snowmelt comes down the cliffs and creates a stunningly clear river running through the meadow. The climate remains pleasant all year, and there's not a hint of civilization in any direction. The Tree of Feelings chose a near perfect spot to raise her sons. Dream and Nightmare play and catch crickets in the long grasses and chase minnows in the river's shallows. The explore the edges of the forest and lower edges of the mountains. Nightmare is a good storyteller and easily captures Dream's attention with made up fantasies.
Since they breathed their first breath, Dream and Nightmare have known their duty. They are the Guardians that protect their Mother and her magical fruit. In this little slip of paradise, they don't do any actual protecting for a long time. The world seems beautiful and kind. Nightmare thought he could have lived like that forever, but it was not meant to be.