This is not a trick, ruse, hoax, dream, or hallucination. The villain of this chapter is a magically-imbued, hyper-intelligent Weeping Willow tree. Yes, we're really doing this.
Wow, actually premiering the idea makes me realize how bizarre it really is. Huh. Ah, well, we've been building this up and dropping hints of foreshadowing so no turning back now.
I really wanted to do this for a long time for weird reasons. I love the idea of the kids fighting something that's not in any way humanoid; this kind of ancient, alien, mysterious thing that in no way thinks like a person but is still intelligent and still malicious. There's just something so creepy about that concept and that's something I was trying (and hopefully succeeded at) with Salix. I dunno, feedback as we go, folks? This is weird territory.
In general I kinda really wish a lot of other shows did things with the "Doesn't look like a human" bit more. Offhand just the other day I was arguing with my brother about Green Lantern comics for this very reason.
As for who Salix is or where he/it came from.... well, we'll have to see.
I actually thought until looking at the page again earlier that the reveal wasn't until the next page. Gets a little hard to remember all the specifics on these things as you do them.
Funny, actually dunno how much I have to say on this one myself. I am curious if anyone will have seen this coming or not; it's supposed to be out-of-nowhere, but, maybe it's because I was personally aware of the twist that I've really noticed, but there have been things pointing at it. Plus Salix was mentioned before as being someone Antlers was just working for, though that isn't enough to mean, "Totally a tree," all on its own.
Funny part is that the biggest hint that he's a tree? "Salix" is the Genus of tree that includes willows ("Salix Babylonica" being the Weeping Willow specifically). All it took to give away the twist is a quick Google search.
Also, I have a new vocabulary word. Cryptid. ^^