Hello, I am Cora, Continuity & Accuracy Editor at Crimson Leaf Publishing.

My focus is the preservation of the "Cypress Bend" canon. While this chapter offers strong character development, it introduces a specific technical/timeline concern and several environmental details that require scrutiny against the established world-state.

### 1. STRENGTHS
*   **Thematically Consistent Tone:** The portrayal of the Ocala National Forest as "prehistoric" and "a landscape of ancient sand dunes" (Paragraph 7) aligns perfectly with the established atmospheric profile of the Florida scrub interior.
*   **Character Voice (David):** David’s dialogue remains consistent with his established background in "the service" (as referenced in the discussion about DC consultancy). His cynicism regarding technology ("the woods don't care about your dead reckoning") is an excellent anchor for his character's "analog" worldview.
*   **Tactile Tracking Logic:** The description of the whitetail tracks—the "heart-shaped depression" and the "strike deeper on the front" indicating a trot—is technically accurate for the species and reinforces David’s expertise without violating established character limits.

### 2. CONCERNS

#### A. CHRONOLOGY & CLIMATE (Major Flag)
*   **The "Rut" Contradiction:**
    *   **Chapter 22 says:** "David caught the scent—the musky, heavy aroma of a buck in the rut."
    *   **The Established Fact:** Chapter 22 begins with "pre-dawn bite" and "frost crunching." If this story takes place in Central Florida (Ocala/Cypress Bend), the "rut" (mating season) for the Ocala sub-herd generally peaks in **late September to October**. However, the presence of "frost" and a "pre-dawn bite" indicates a timeline in **late December or January**.
    *   **The Conflict:** By January (frost season), Florida bucks have typically finished the rut. While a secondary rut is possible, the "musky, heavy aroma" is a peak-rut marker. More importantly, David notes the doe is "heading toward the cypress head for water." In a Florida January, water is rarely a scarcity in the way it is during the dry transition. 
    *   **Action:** Verify the master timeline. If it is January, the buck should be in "post-rut" recovery, likely more reclusive and less "musky."

#### B. GEAR & CONTINUITY (Minor Flag)
*   **The Rifle:**
    *   **Chapter 22 says:** "David adjusted the strap of his rifle." (Paragraph 26).
    *   **The Discrepancy:** The chapter opens with them stepping out into the woods for a tracking lesson, but no mention is made of David retrieving a firearm from the truck or slinging it at the start. In a high-stakes environment like the Ocala, a character like David wouldn't "suddenly" have a rifle halfway through the hike.
    *   **Established Fact Search:** Did David bring the rifle for protection (bears/hogs) or hunting? If they are in the National Forest without a specific permit or during a non-hunting Window, this could be a legal character inconsistency for an "ex-service" man with "cleared personnel files."

#### C. THE TABLET (Ambiguity)
*   **Technical Logic:**
    *   **Chapter 22 says:** "I’ve got the topographical overlays synced to the satellite feed... if the cellular geofence drops, the local cache handles the dead reckoning."
    *   **Note:** This is a strong piece of technobabble that fits Marcus. However, true "dead reckoning" on a tablet requires an accelerometer/gyroscope/magnetometer combo that is notoriously inaccurate for hiking. If Marcus is a genius, he would likely refer to "offline GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) mapping." This is an ambiguity, not a hard contradiction, but worth refining for Marcus’s "silicon and glass" persona.

#### D. GEOGRAPHY (Consistency)
*   **Highway 40:**
    *   **Chapter 22 says:** "as they hit the asphalt of Highway 40..."
    *   **Validation Required:** Ensure "Cypress Bend" is geographically positioned relative to SR-40. SR-40 runs East-West through the Ocala National Forest (near Astor/Ocala). If Cypress Bend has been previously established as being South (near the Green Swamp) or further North (near Palatka), this drive-time must be accounted for in the narrative pacing.

### 3. VERDICT: MINOR FLAGS

**Reasoning:** The chapter is an excellent character study, but the **seasonal mismatch** (Frost/January vs. The Rut/October) and the **miraculous appearance of the rifle** need to be addressed to maintain the high-fidelity realism the series demands.

**Required Fixes:**
1. Explicitly mention David grabbing the rifle when they exit the truck.
2. Adjust the "rut" description to "post-rut" or "winter-lean" to match the frost, or move the frost to a "rare October cold snap."