"His intuition rilled out of him as tenderness and compassion."
Two days and he had not slept. Two days at her bedside, making sure she was kept from throwing off the tightly wrapped furs, even though her skin was scorching, because Gran-gran said they must stay on. Two days of listening for any change in the ragged breathing coming from those furs. Two days of Water Tribe warriors with gray and black faces outside the door, guarding their Chief and the tribe's Master Waterbender. Two days of the village waiting with baited breath.
On the third day he was granted a small interruption. Reports came; the Air bison had been spotted in the sky as the sun fell but did not set. Sokka wanted to be startled because he hadn't expected Aang back for another day at least, but the sudden smidgeon of relief consumed him. Sokka supposed Appa had never flown harder and regretted he had no endless field of sweet grass to offer in thanks.
Yugoda was rushed into the room and Sokka was pushed out. His warriors did not blink at his bleary and bloodshot appearance. However, the Fire ambassador, perhaps as his equal, had no such qualms. He spoke softly.
"Sokka, you need rest and food." Sokka shook his head even as he thought Zuko was more like his uncle than he knew. Sokka sagged against the ice wall that separated him from his sister, too exhausted to be furious with her for going out on her own in the middle of the night but feeling angry nonetheless. "For your people, Sokka." Zuko added quietly so the soldiers wouldn't hear their master reminded of his duty. Sokka forced himself to recognize the truth of Zuko's words and nodded his head once, leaving with an image of a too-pale Katara (again) haunting his every thought.
