Disclaimer: I don't have the strength right now to come up with a witty disclaimer, but i didn't write TDA.
The Blackthorns crowded together on the highest point of land they could reach. Ty stood as close to his siblings as he could, but his only point of contact was his hand, tightly clenched in Livvy's. Dru was clinging to Livvy's other arm with both hands, her back pressed against Julian's side. Mark was behind them with Tavvy.
Julian held his cell phone in the hand that wasn't clutching Dru's shoulder. "Damn it!" he growled. "I lost the signal." He looked around at them. "Emma and Cristina are both in town. I don't know if they'll get out–"
"They'll be fine," Mark said. "They can take care of themselves."
He sounded remarkably composed. Ty supposed he'd seen worse in the Wild Hunt, but he wasn't disposed to feel charitable toward his oldest brother right now. Instead he analyzed the chances the others had. They would be fine, probably. They were all strong, capable, except for maybe–
"Ty! Livvy!" Kit ran up to them. Ty's gaze skipped to his face, then over it. He was glad to see him.
Livvy was less reserved about it. "Kit!" She freed her right arm to throw around him in a hug, which he returned. Her left hand stayed firmly in Ty's. "You're all right!"
"Yeah." Kit drew back and turned to Ty, one arm out to the side. "Can i . . .?"
He didn't finish, but it was clear what he wanted. Ty froze for a moment; could he stand to be hugged right now? He decided he wanted to and nodded.
Kit wrapped his right arm firmly around Ty's shoulders and pulled him tight against his body. Right now, Ty could see why people liked to touch each other. It felt good to have Kit there, solid and warm and reassuring that maybe the world wasn't coming to an end after all. He had Livvy too, still holding his hand, and the rest of his family on her other side.
Maybe it would be all right after all.
A/N: Sorry, i'm awful and didn't come up with a reason they all have to stand strong like this. I just needed to write something like this after certain events – who am i kidding, everyone already knows what kind of real-life disaster is going on. But hey, at least i've finally posted something. I've only been not finishing TDA fics since March.