With the sun at its zenith, Talyssa stood amidst the labyrinthine wetland, her bright gaze surveying the scenery. The brackish river splintered in a maze-like network of tributaries, each channel harboring a unique array of aquatic life. She reveled in the hum of nature- as quiet as it may be within the thrulls of winter- accentuated by the rhythmic babble of water flowing through countless channels.

Her focus fluttered over the many islands that dotted the expanse of divided waterways. Each one was untouched- untamed life; verdant canopies sheltering wildlife, their roots anchored in rich soil saturated by the river's bounty. Frosted tips of grass, kissed by winter's chill, sparkled under the high sun, a sight that brought a pleasant grin to Talyssa's face. While her exhale was silent, it was seen by the cloud frozen in the air beyond her parted lips. As she turned to those who had gathered, she cleared her throat to speak. “Creative thinking is more than just having a clever idea or solving a complex problem. It's about seeing the world in a different light – seeing possibilities where others do not.” She motioned around her, twirling on her heel with an arm extended, "Like this garden. To some, it's merely a collection of flora and fauna intertwined in a haphazard dance of survival. But to us...” Here she paused, looking directly into the eyes of those before her, “It can be a labyrinth of lessons waiting to be learned.”

"Talyssa Carpathius"

Rakia listened intently to Talyssa's words, absorbing them as she did the sight of the frosted landscape around her. Her eyes were drawn towards the brackish river that meandered lazily through the dense vegetation, its water gleaming like a silver ribbon in the noon sun. Creative thinking. The phrase echoed in Rakia's head, the syllables rippling through her like the waves of the chilly river. She thought of the slate grey mountain and its bleak, forbidding peaks - there was certainly no possibility of creative thinking bringing warmth to such a desolate place. But as she watched the water sparkle under the mid day sun, she realized that perhaps this was not true.

The river flowed, unyielding and resolute, carving its own path through the landscape. It molded the earth to its will, shaping the terrain and creating a haven of life in its wake. If such power could be found in nature, then surely it could be harnessed within herself, within them all.

She nodded along as Talyssa provided the example of the garden. A labyrinth of lessons to be learned. From what she could tell, it seemed that the golden and white fae was quite the creative thinker herself.

"Rakia Perreau"

Identification listened and watched as the woman began to speak out, without word she sat there. The waters making music to match the young womans vocals that slipped freely from her maw. A small smile crossing her lips while thoughts went to the water. Wondering were they came and went. Attention was soon drawn towards Talyssa, enjoying many of her lessons so far. Pretty much all of them. Wondering where this one could come in handy, ideas already sparking to life. Her tail curled to her side as she sat and waited.


Identification

table coding by bunni ♥

Within the wetland, molten eyes cold and calculating as he observed Talyssa. The maze of tributaries and islands, each teeming with life, meant little to him beyond their potential to benefit him.

As she spoke about creative thinking and seeing possibilities, Setekh remained silent, his thoughts dark and analytical. The occasional smile gracing his features as he gave a nod. He saw her enthusiasm as naive, yet found a twisted amusement in her attempts to inspire the group. How many of them did she believe were such light-filled souls such as herself? Oh but how delicate she was as she orchestrated such command over their attention. Beauty bewitchment, he mused to himself. How she spun them in loops with words alone.

Her words lingered in the crisp air, but Setekh's focus was on the potential each element held for his own ends.

"speaking" | voices

Annwyn watched from the shadows once again, her eyes never leaving Talyssa as she stood in the heart of the wetland. The intricate network of tributaries and the vibrant life they sustained were a pleasant reminder of nature’s complexity and resilience. Talyssa’s words about creative thinking resonated through the chilly air, mingling with the sounds of the flowing water.

As Talyssa gestured around her, highlighting the potential within the wild landscape, Annwyn couldn’t help but feel a flicker of agreement. The untamed land was proof of the hidden lessons in the natural world, lessons she had often relied on for survival. Yet, she remained an observer, her guarded heart cautious of embracing such ideals openly. She would listen, and learn the ways of these… natives justly.

the selfish

“Creative thinking is not only about finding your way through the maze, but understanding why the maze is there in the first place," she continued, her voice echoing across the secluded watery expanse. "It's about unraveling the plot of the dance and predicting the next step. To think creatively, one must not only follow the paths well-trodden but also dare to tread where none have before. To embrace the possibilities of errors and leadings astray, only to emerge stronger, wiser."

Talyssa drew in a deep breath, letting her eyes wander once again over the variegated spectacle that was their classroom. Beneath the cerulean skies, clusters of snow-covered foxglove stood as sentinels, while sedges lay clasped beneath their winter slumber. A distant willow wept icicles at the river's edge, its reflection distorted by the ripples across the water's surface. Talyssa gestured towards the willow. "Just as this tree bends in the wind and weeps when it's laden with ice, so must we learn to adapt and express our burdens. It stands here, firm, connected to its roots and yet still flexible to the forces of its environment." She paused, allowing her words to sink in.

After a moment, she turned back to her audience. Her gaze was stern but the corners of her mouth were turned up in a warm smile - a juxtaposition that made the listeners lean forward slightly, anticipation thick in the air. “The essence of creative thinking lies in embracing what is unknown, and daring to question what is accepted as known. It lies in the curiosity of a child who wonders why the sky is blue, or why the river flows. It lies in the audacity of an explorer who ventures into uncharted territories, not for conquest, but for discovery.” Which is what resonated most with herself.

"Talyssa Carpathius"

Through the last few lessons, Setekh's mind remained indifferent and calculative. Her talk of creative thinking and understanding the maze's purpose intrigued him, but only for the way she spelled out the answers for the group. Leading them to water, but would they drink? He himself saw her earnest words as opportunities to exploit the very paths she encouraged others to explore.

As she spoke of the willow's adaptability, Setekh noted the metaphor but twisted it to fit his own perspective -- strength through flexibility meant finding weaknesses to take hold of. Her warmth and wisdom contrasted starkly with his own cold, calculating nature. Pity. Her soul, it was not his particular flavor.

"speaking" | voices

Annwyn's keen gaze followed Talyssa’s every move, her words echoing through the quiet, frozen landscape. The intricate dance of creative thinking, as Talyssa described, was something Annwyn understood well in her own harsh terms. She had learned to navigate not just the physical mazes of the wild but the mental and emotional labyrinths that life had thrown at her.

As Talyssa gestured to the willow tree, Annwyn's gaze lingered on its bent form, recognizing the resilience in its adaptation. Oh lovely willow, such strength and power. The lesson of flexibility and strength in the face of burden was not lost on her. She observed the group, wondering if they held any strong beliefs like she; but likely not. Though she remained distant, Annwyn could appreciate the value of Talyssa’s words, even if her own path had led her to a different kind of understanding. Maybe one day she would find a soul to redeem her own.

the selfish

"Speech"
|| "Thoughts"

Identification stood there, the words that fell from Talyssa's lips resonating deep within her mind and body. Pale coat giving a shiver from her insides. Ears continued to stay forwards, jaded pools turning to the the willow tree as it danced with the winter breeze the sun warm though. The chill didn't seem to bother Fic which she was thankful for. Silence fell upon the group, as they all seemed to be listening. Identification hoped they all listened and took in what the woman had to say. Identification didn't understand, but also understood they learn to adapt with everything around them all, much like the old willow tree.

mood board

Rakia's heart swelled as Talyssa's words unfurled around her, seeping into her like the warmth of a pre-autumn sun. They were challenging concepts for sure, requiring an acceptance of potential failure and the courage to explore uncharted territories.

Her attention shift to the willow, its branches hanging heavy with the weight of frozen tears. The winter's austerity had stripped it bare, and yet, it still held a certain grace in its vulnerability. A shiver ran through her as she contemplated Talyssa's words. 'Adapt and express our burdens'. She found herself musing on the words, the chilly air prickling her skin, enhancing her senses—a metaphorical reflection of the lesson itself. Rakia found herself captivated by Talyssa's words.

"Rakia Perreau"

Talyssa's eyes shone with the fervour of her speech, the intensity of her gaze enough to pin even the most restless of listeners. She continued, painting vibrant- thought-provoking images with her words. “There is no right or wrong way to think, of course. But rather than trudging through life with a fixed gaze, we must aspire to think beyond the confines of our own perspectives.”

“When you come up with a creative solution to a problem, you’re not only solving the issue at hand. You’re broadening the horizon of what is understood, and what is accepted. You’re breaking boundaries, pushing limits, and reshaping the world as we know it.” Her voice carried an uncontained excitement now. “A creative mind is a force to be reckoned with. It's transformative. It's revolutionary.” She paused, her gaze moving over the present faces slowly, connecting with each one individually. “And that is why we are here today. To step off the beaten path. To explore the unknown. To question the accepted. To think creatively.” She let her words hang in the air, hanging like a tangible challenge in the frosty winter's noon.

"Talyssa Carpathius"

Rakia felt the weight of Talyssa's words settle over her, a mantle of responsibility and potential. The chill in the air seemed to pierce her to her core, its icy fingers threading through her thoughts and filling them with an ethereal clarity. She turned her gaze skyward, where the bare branches of the willow scratched the belly of the overcast sky. The limbs seemed to grasp at the clouded ether, a desperate and futile attempt to seize control over the canvas of grey. The tree, so stark against the heavy clouds, pierced her understanding like an arrowhead: she had to be like this willow, striving for more even if the odds seemed insurmountable, reaching out into the unknown even if success was not guaranteed. A sense of purpose washed over her, filling her with a resolve she hadn't felt in ages. She nodded to herself, resolving to never hesitate to offer a creative solution to a problem. To question the accepted.

"Rakia Perreau"

"Speech"
|| "Thoughts"

Branches dipped and swayed, which captured Fics attention, still listening to the words of the woman Talyssa. She understood some creativity but not to the extent that Talyssa spoke of. She wanted more, more knowledge that Talyssa had to offer. Starving some could say for that same knowlege.

Hungry for creativity. Noting that there was creative ways to go about things, something that Identification would store away and use in the near future. A smile crossing her dark lips. She wasn't use to breaking boundaries or pushing limits though.

She could offer advice and give another a different veiw on the world, but she could do it in a gentle way. Tail dancing around behind her. Head tilted gently to the side as deep within her train of thought..

mood board

By this point his molten eyes were cold and unblinking as he watched her. Her fervor and excitement about creative thinking and breaking boundaries bored him, obviously not what she intended. He attempted a smile, a faint and ghostly thing as his musings wandered to transformation and revolution. Acts he had committed plenty of in the past. His interest was there, in the manner in which she spoke of reshaping the world and stepping off the beaten path. Rules were made to be broken, all except his own.

Absorbing the lesson, his mind is already plotting ways to turn her revolutionary ideas into tools for his own twisted purposes. Yes, indeed, he would break more and more boundaries – as he always had.

"speaking" | voices

Annwyn remained a silent observer, her expression stoic as Talyssa's fervent words reverberated through the group. The passionate speech about transcending personal perspectives and embracing creativity resonated in the air, painting vivid images of possibilities.

Annwyn's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of recognition passing through her gaze. She had spent years pushing boundaries and reshaping her own world out of sheer necessity. Talyssa’s excitement was palpable, a stark contrast to Annwyn's hardened pragmatism. Yet, she could see the power in these lessons, the transformative potential they held for those willing to embrace them. As Talyssa's challenge hung in the frosty air, Annwyn couldn't help but acknowledge the spark of revolution that true creative thinking could ignite, even if it was a path she walked alone. Ah, well.

the selfish