The bark on a Truffula tree is somewhat soft to the touch.
It's just sturdy enough to stand up mostly straight, but it bends easily when weight or pressure is applied, like when the trees bear fruit or when Swommee-Swans or bar-ba-loots decide to nest or climb.
The first tree to fall didn't have a nest, and it wasn't really bearing fruit yet. Only little, fluffy blossoms had begun to form between the tufts, still fragile.
The Once-ler didn't like being compared to the trees. After all, his job consisted of cutting them down to use them as materials. They weren't useful for anything else, really.
So when the comparisons were listed, he usually made a clear point of ignoring them. Then again…
"The trees are tall and proud, and have their place in nature!"
That got him somewhat interested. The redhead mouthing him off had found a bit of a weak point, perhaps – his pride. She noticed the change in his expression fairly quickly. Having followed him for twenty minutes, the annoying little activist had a slightly triumphant look on her face at finally having her gaze returned, if only with mild interest.
"I'll give you that," he finally mused, lifting an eyebrow. "They may be tall and proud, and so am I. But their place in nature is directly below mine in the chain, you see."
Her lips tightened to a thin line, obviously disliking his tone. It only encouraged him to continue, though.
"You like nature, don't you?" He turned towards her, leaning a little closer, towering over her with a satisfied look. "Then I bet you should know everything about the principle of nature."
"Animals use the trees as resources, not as prey," she retorted coldly. "You know what uses trees for its own good without returning anything to nature?"
His face expressed a mixture of confusion, annoyance and disinterest, but he opened his mouth for a sarcastic reply. "Let me guess. Me?" he offered, his voice dripping with fake sweetness.
"Parasites," the redhead spat.
The Once-ler didn't have a reply to that.
"You're just like the trees. You're going to fall the same way as they do," she finished, before walking away.
A/N: Just an AU drabble to get myself started with writing in the Loraxverse. I hope it's alright!