We reached the extraction post early enough to discover we were late for the weather.
The lower path had flooded.
Water covered the marked stepping stones and flowed through the place where the transport cart was supposed to meet us. A red board hung across the approach. The course staff had closed it before anybody tried to improve a score by testing the current with their boots.
Nyx checked the higher route while I counted the group. Seven. All tired, all carrying more damp cloth than we had started with. Elara's sample had already gone through the supervised station, so at least we weren't deciding whether to transport questionable soil through floodwater.
The instructor at the post showed us the revised extraction options.
