Don't Disturb Stella and Her Mates novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: Tears on Camera

At dawn a medical shuttle dropped into the hollow, and two medics carried Dax away on a stretcher.

He did not look at Thora as they lifted him.

Thora stood in the ash of the fire and watched the shuttle climb out of sight.

She had not slept, and her wrist still felt the shape of his hand.

Joren and the Heir had come up the trail at first light and stood at the edge of the hollow, watching her without a word.

Then the sky tore open again, and a second pod came down hard in the clearing.

The hatch swung open and Stella Ostrow stepped out in a white field jacket and clean boots.

Behind her three drones swooped down and spread out to film from every angle.

"Everyone!" Stella said, and ran across the grass with her arms wide.

Her eyes were already full of tears.

"I came the minute I heard. Is Dax all right? Is he alive?"

"He's alive," Ansel said, and let her hug him.

Stella held onto him, and onto Keir, and onto Joren, who stood stiff and let her bury her face in his chest.

"I told you," she said, shaking. "I told you she'd do something."

Thora said nothing.

Stella lifted her wet face from Joren's coat and turned to look at her.

"Oh, Thora," she said, and her voice broke. "Why?"

Every camera in the clearing turned.

"I sent those jugs because I was worried about you," Stella said. "I wanted all of you to be safe. And now Dax is... and they say you were seen at the cache. You were the only one who touched the water."

The host's voice rang out from a drone.

"Our viewers are asking the same question, Stella! Did Thora Ostrow tamper with the sponsor water?"

Thora stepped forward into the light.

"Play the feed," she said.

"The feed shows you pouring it out," Stella said gently.

"Play all of it. From when I opened the first jug."

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