Discussion of "The Tree Talker" by purplesea

I enjoyed it. Can't wait for the next chapter.

I like the concept, and it's not a bad set-up at all. I like that you get right to the encounter between Emilio and the trees.

But a lot of the conversation between Emilio and the Trees in confusing. What is a third child? What is a fifth child? It doesn't seem like they are talking about literal children, but something else.

I don't like that Emilio accepts his gift so fast. There's no conflict there. You write: "He finally understood why the trees considered this a gift, and why no tree-talker ever regretted having that third child" but there is no finally - a light suffuses him and he gets it - there is no struggle or resistance.

Hi AndrewLamar and Lily_Cade! I'm sorry about the confusion Lily_Cade, I meant "third" child where I wrote "fifth". About Emilio's immediate acceptance of the gift, or the lack of conflict/resistance, I wanted to show that as a natural and inevitable reaction to the gift--that that is how the gift is supposed to make one feel, and that one has no choice but to accept it anyway. I hope to make things a bit clearer in the the next chapter. I appreciate the comments! Thanks for reading!