All the education it got from bees didn't make the Champion Tree's demeanour much less self-focused than it always has been. Probably because it could only sense its surroundings as far as its branches and roots went. But it got more used to talking to us, and its manner of speech became smoother.
Its younger tree-children weren't much more communicative, but we still spent some effort on those who lived long-term as part of our buildings. The others were cut down for wood or to clear space too often. But this was alright for the usnea kind, as long as new trees were planted in their place.
Thus, when I directed my astral projection toward it, the Tree was thinking about tree things, as usual—how soon would its new fruits grow and ripen, and how many little trees would grow from them.
My question made the Tree change gears.
