Alternate ending! While writing the first version, I was getting way too sad. This normally does not happen to me. Normally, I thrive on tragedy. Anyway, I got too sad, and this fic is the result. I've bolded the part where (if I remember correctly) this version starts to differ from the first.
He has no idea why there was a single Fire Nation soldier out in the wilderness. He isn't sure if there are more nearby, but he hasn't been able to hear anything that would lead him to believe so. The soldier must have been a scout, then.
Good, he thinks firmly. The others will be safe.
He is shaking uncontrollably. The adrenaline is fading from his system. He is starting to feel panic, pain.
He wishes Katara were there. His fingers tighten over his stomach as he thinks of her, wishing she was there to comfort him. He wishes his mother were there, too, but it's sort of the same thing now, Katara and his mother.
He groans loudly through gritted teeth and tears leak out of his eyes. His body is tingling, his head swimming, and there is pain searing across his skin all over.
He wants Katara, but he has strayed far enough from camp in search of game that he doubts he will be heard unless he screams. He doesn't want to draw any soldiers that may be nearby, and he doesn't know if he even has the strength. Terrified, his mind and body wrecked, he begins to sob quietly; he cannot help himself. He is immobile, completely helpless, and he feels like a child.
He had heard the firebender coming and hid behind a tree, striking a surprise blow with his sword. He hadn't penetrated the armor, but he'd sent the soldier stumbling, giving Sokka the opportunity to crack his helmet. It fell apart, revealing the bender's face.
He had recovered quickly, leaping to his feet and throwing two streams of fire from his hands at the same time. Sokka attempted to dodge them, but the side of his face and neck were caught in one of the bursts of flame. Though the pain was immense, he managed to shake it off quickly and strike again.
The man blocked the blows, striking back with fists and fire. Sokka managed to dodge most of the attacks, sustaining minimal damage. Through soft spots in the Fire soldier's armor, he managed to inflict some himself.
And then the firebender's hands were hovering centimeters away from his chest and a thick shaft of flame hit him. He staggered back and, before he could even think of defending himself, his enemy had pulled out a dagger and plunged it into his sternum.
Sokka screamed. The dagger was pulled down his stomach, creating a long gash, almost down to his navel.
A pained noise was wrenched from his throat. He almost lost the grip on his sword. He wanted to fall to the ground and let himself die. But he couldn't let this Fire Nation scum go to find his friends, or to bring more forces here. He gripped his sword and steeled himself before pulling back and piercing the soldier's throat in one swift motion. He was showered with blood. The soldier fell, gurgling, his wide eyes locked onto Sokka's.
Trembling, pressing his hands over his wound, Sokka turned and took several erratic steps back in the direction of camp before hitting the ground with a thud.
Now, he lets out a shuddering cry, trying to express some of the agony raging through him. He wants Katara. He wants her to be there with him so badly he calls her name.
He listens.
He tells himself that the danger has passed, that if he screams for her, no enemies will hear him. He has not heard anything. He can reasonably assume that he can have her at his side and that everyone will be safe.
He gathers the minimal strength he has left and yells his sister's name as loud as he can. His body feels like it's being ripped apart anew and he sobs hard, wrapping his arms around his stomach, curling in on himself.
He has to hold on. He pulls air through his nose, trying to calm himself down, trying to will away the pain. Katara is coming for him.
He clings to the thought. Katara is coming for him.
He hears the strong whoosh of Aang's airbending and the wind blows around him in the next second. It stops and he hears Aang gasp, whisper his name.
Sokka turns to him. They stare at each other wordlessly. Aang seemed not to breathe.
He hears footsteps and he knows they can only belong to his sister. He rolls over slightly and catches her eye as she runs into the clearing. She freezes. She stays where she is. She doesn't move. He can feel his heart breaking.
He pleads with her, holds his hand out. She looks at it and hesitates. He knows: it's covered in blood. He pleads harder. His voice breaks.
Then she is holding his hand, sitting down and pulling his head into her lap.
He sighs. He is in so much pain, but he's happy. Katara is holding his hand and stroking his forehead. She is bent close to him, murmuring something soft and unintelligible, and her tears are landing very softly on his face.
Sokka looks at her and smiles weakly. She can't smile back, but he understands. There is blood in his mouth, on his lips. He chokes on it a little.
Things are getting dark. He closes his eyes and sighs again, and Katara begs him not to go, but they both know he is going to die. She hasn't even bothered to try to heal him.
He mumbles something to her softly and squeezes her hand. Her face contorts as she tries not to bawl. She feels him slip away finally; he goes limp. He is dead.
She sniffs, her body shakes. She leans over and kisses his forehead, on the very edge of cracking.
"I love you too," she whispers. And then, she breaks.