Page 68 of Stealing the Star Stone
“Orien?”she gasped.
“Paparazzi,” he snapped.“Stay calm.”
She snorted.“Iamcalm.”
“Eli Thorne, E-Galactic.”A feminine voice boomed from the drone’s speakers.“We’re so happy to have found you.Rumor has it that you’re prepping for your next role.Any clues as to what we can expect?”
“I can shoot it from the sky,” Nova whispered.
“Don’t bother.They’ll just send more drones.”
“Okay, what do I say?”She shifted in front of him, shielding him from the camera.
“That you’ll be reprising the role of Nebula Slim.There’s no script, or I haven’t seen it, yet.”
She set the bag on the ground, then repeated him word for word.“I’d be happy to give you an exclusive once I return to…” She smirked.“Civilization.”
“Thank you,” the reporter said.“Who’s the woman?”
Eli smothered a chuckle.Time for improv.“I’m Nova Blake.”He gripped his hips.“I’m surprised you gained access to a restricted moon.Your name and designation, please.”
“That won’t be necessary.We have all the images we need.”The drone shot up and circled back.
“Shit, not sure that was a good thing,” she said.“Thinking you’re out here for a role means no rescue.”
“At least she left us alone.”
An explosion whipped their attention at a plume of smoke.The drone crashed into the trees beyond the waterfalls.
“That had to be Orien’s doing,” Eli said.
“We’re out in the open.Obviously.”She waved a hand at where the drone had been.
“Yeah, let’s find cover.”He nudged his head to continue.
She did, picking up the bag and jogging onward.“Is this normal?People intruding?”
“You get used to it.”
She scowled and veered left, skirting the side of the ravine a little farther from the riverbank.With no more drones to delay them, they covered a good distance.
At the edge of a forest, she faltered.“See any green goo?”
He stopped beside her.“Let’s just assume it’s there.”He glanced at the river, white frothy waves proving the rapids might be a little tricky to navigate.“We’ve got no choice.”
She clutched the bag’s straps tighter across her chest.“I’d say to head back, maybe take the other side, but—” She nudged her chin at the opposite bank crowded with trees.
“Yeah, and with Orien too close, we’re going to have to make a run for it.”He gave her upper arm a squeeze.“I’m ready.”
She smirked.“Just no more falling into caves.”
“Well,” he shrugged, “it did get us a stone.”
She nodded, squared her shoulders, then broke into a sprint, weaving between trees, from boulder to root.He followed, tracing her steps as best he could.The wind and his breathing filled his ears.And a tingling.
“Do you hear that?”she asked, pausing on a thick patch of purple moss.
He halted next to her and scanned their surroundings.Tall grass, ferns, and gigantic mushrooms covered the forest bed.He tilted his head.“Sounds like bells.”
