thicker than blood

The children accepted Loren’s hug and his healing, and he squeezed them tightly before releasing them. At Beatrix’s insistence that the gods had nothing to do with it, the summoner smiled, still too glad to simply have found them to be bothered by much of anything. [say]”Right, right, of course.”[/say] Slinging the pack off his back, he started pulling out the correct sized clothing for them and food and holding it out to both Jace and Beatrix. [say]"Here, take this. And let's get you back inside for now."[/say] However, at his half-sister’s question, Loren gave her a shocked look. [say]”I’ve been concerned about you since I got back, Bea. And when I realized you weren’t avoiding me and had run away from home I was worried sick.”[/say] He honestly didn’t know how she could ask him that question and the hurt was apparent in his voice and on his face.