15
Carly woke alone in the predawn light.
She hadn’t slept outdoors in a long time, not since she used to go camping with her father. Linc had never been one for camping.
A sharp Whoosh! drew her attention upward.
The drone shot low above her, out over the river, then climbed rapidly.
She jerked upright. Both blankets had been wrapped close about her. Dew spangled her face and hair. The warm night was now gone to cool morning.
The spot beside her was clear of dew as well. Steve must have woken a bit earlier to land, fuel, and relaunch the drone, but not enough for any dew to form.
They’d slept together, just slept. She rarely slept a whole night through anymore. And never during a fire. She’d wake up in the middle of the night with her mind churning over the fire’s variables.
Steve
