I actually had a weird little headcanon that the tree would distribute the "seeds" of the captured male to the podlings, who would combine it with the female "seeds" they had consumed, wherein they would then permanently root themselves to the tree to begin the process of growing a whole new life form inside of them. These new (mostly animal) life forms, which would combine traits of their "parents", as well as gain some traits from the podlings and the tree (like green fur and the ability to telepathically commune with plants), would eventually be found by the villagers, who would take them back to be raised as their own children (this presumably being the purpose of the "Rite of Womanhood" in the first place).
Upon learning of this particular detail, Linda and her companion return to the village, and there they find several such "pod children" in the care of the village women. They also learn of a trio of them that the villagers were proving unable to find proper homes for, and being the kind souls that they are, the two decide to bring these pod children back to civilization with them, to raise together as a family.
Why? Cause it'd be freakin' adorable, that's why.
I actually had a weird little headcanon that the tree would distribute the "seeds" of the captured m
