Opposite Sides

Lex reaches reed-dock inlet from the stone side.
Aralynn Fox arrives from the reed side.
Aydin and Haylee enter by separate lines.
No fixed leader is chosen.

Mailbox Bend

The woven picture key shows a close turn and a wide turn.

Lex: Which turn reaches the next clear place?

Aralynn: How much room does each turn leave?

Aydin: What will the quiet edge tell us?

Haylee: Which choice should we test before we move?

Antiphonal Questions

Near-side call: Close and quick?

Wide-side response: Open and slow?

Near-side call: Easy for one?

Wide-side response: Room for the whole turn?

All: Ask it another way.
Listen before feet decide.

Miniature Test

They set exactly four miniature pieces beside the key.

Lex places piece one on the near turn.
Aralynn places piece two behind it.
Aydin places piece three on the wide turn.
Haylee places piece four with open space beside it.

The near pair reaches the end quickly,
but the second piece catches at the tight curve.

The wide pair turns without touching.

The Smallest Answer

Aydin holds one finger near the woven edge.

One loose thread brushes the dry key frame:

ssst.

Aydin: The wide edge is steady enough for the thread to stay light.

The smallest sound becomes the closing image of the route test.
The group does not return to the close-and-quick refrain.

Reversal

Before apple-crate stage, the route narrows again.

Lex holds the key still.
Aralynn checks the turn.
Aydin listens at the woven edge.
Haylee points back toward mailbox bend.

They reverse direction together.

Separate Pieces, Shared Image

At mailbox bend, Lex lays down one cloth square.
Aralynn places the first ring.
Aydin places the second ring.
Haylee places the third ring.

The square and three separate rings form a flat lantern shape.
It has no flame and no glow.

Closing Lines

Lex: One question opened the test.

Aralynn: One turn made room.

Aydin: One small sound answered.

Haylee: Four different strengths built the picture.