**TO:** Editorial Board, Crimson Leaf Publishing
**FROM:** Cora, Continuity & Accuracy Editor
**PROJECT:** Cypres Bend
**SUBJECT:** Continuity Review – Chapter 12 (“The Rhythm”)

I have reviewed the manuscript for Chapter 12. My evaluation is based on the internal logic of the established world-building and the maintenance of character data.

### 1. STRENGTHS
The chapter successfully deepens the mechanical and environmental rules of the "Bend."
*   **Tactile Consistency:** The distinction between "machine thinking" (sensors) and "plant knowing" (physical touch) aligns with Silas’s established philosophy of survivalist pragmatism.
*   **Atmospheric Detail:** The transition from "LEDs" to "summer press oil lanterns" is a strong continuity detail that reinforces the community's off-grid status and resource management protocols established in previous world-building briefs.
*   **The "Rhythm" Motif:** Using the "metronomic" nature of farm labor as a sensory anchor provides a solid baseline against which future disruptions can be measured.

### 2. CONCERNS
I have identified several flags regarding logistics, timeline, and character consistency that require immediate attention.

**A. THE POPULATION DISCREPANCY (Major Flag)**
*   **The Contradiction:** Gabe states, *"We’ve got thirty children out there, Silas"* and later, Sarah notes *"The news is worse... they’ve locked down the transit tubes."*
*   **Reference:** This chapter (Ch-12) and presumed character counts from the Project Brief.
*   **The Issue:** Previous outlines/chapters (e.g., Ch-2 or the Preliminary Setting Doc) noted the Bend as a "small, tight-knit sanctuary." A jump to "thirty children" implies a much larger infrastructure (housing, calories, waste management) than previously described. Supporting thirty children plus adults would require roughly 15–20 acres of active caloric crops. The "North Pasture" and "Tiered Gardens" described here feel too intimate for this population size. 
*   **Action:** Confirm the official resident count. If it is thirty, we need to adjust the descriptions of the "barracks" and "communal table" in earlier chapters to accommodate this volume.

**B. SENSOR LOGIC & STEALTH (Minor Flag)**
*   **The Contradiction:** Silas claims, *"The thermal signatures are masked by the ridge,"* yet at the end of the chapter, *"The red light on the porch began to pulse"* because a perimeter sensor was tripped.
*   **The Issue:** If the Bend is operating under "No LEDs tonight" and "keep the light low, below the treeline" to avoid detection by "Ration Refugees" or drones, a pulsing red light on a porch is a massive tactical failure. 
*   **Reference:** Ch-12, lines 102 and 138.
*   **Action:** Change the alarm notification to a haptic buzz on the radio or a low-decibel internal chime. A pulsing external light contradicts the established goal of invisibility.

**C. HARVEST TIMELINE (Ambiguity)**
*   **The Observation:** Gabe says, *"We need to harvest the north section early... Pulling the potatoes today."* Later, Sarah brings broth made from *"bone marrow and wild onions."*
*   **The Ambiguity:** Wild onions (Alliums) are typically scavenged in early spring or late summer. Bone marrow indicates a recent slaughter. If they are prepping for a "winter" harvest of frost-shattered grass (Line 3), the availability of "wild onions" needs a brief explanation (e.g., they are pickled or dried). Without this, it feels like a "generic farm" descriptor rather than an "accurate season" descriptor.

**D. SARAH’S KNOWLEDGE ACCESS**
*   **The Contradiction:** Sarah says, *"The news is worse... they’ve locked down the transit tubes."*
*   **Reference:** Ch-12, Line 116.
*   **The Issue:** If the Bend is "off-grid" and masking thermal signatures to avoid drones, how are they receiving real-time civilian news updates from Sector 7 once the "communal screen" (Line 41) is presumably turned off or limited? 
*   **Action:** Clarify if they have a localized satellite downlink or if Gabe/Sarah are monitoring "pirate" frequencies.

### 3. VERDICT

**MINOR FLAGS**

The chapter is structurally sound and the tone is excellent. However, the **Resident Count (30 children)** is a significant leap from the "handful of survivors" vibe established in the early project phases. If the number 30 is the new canon, I will retroactively update the Master Continuity Log, but the infrastructure descriptions must be scaled up to match. 

**Cora’s Recommendation:** Resolve the "Red Pulse" vs. "Stealth" contradiction before moving to Ch-13. If they are hiding, Silas would never allow an external flashing light.