Our mother's dead. Even after they'd buried her Sokka still couldn't wrap his head around it. The past few days had been a blur, coming back to discover his mother's body, Katara's cries, their father's pained expression, the Fire Nation ships sailing away full of Waterbender prisoners.
"Hey, Sokka."
Sokka moved over on the pile of furs so Hakoda could sit down.
"Katara finally went to sleep?"
"Yeah. I think she'll be okay," his father said. "But what about you, son? You've hardly said anything these last few days."
"Of course I am! I miss Mom, but I'm also gonna be a man someday," Sokka said, rubbing his eyes, "and men don't cry. Besides, if I get upset it'll just make Katara start crying all over again."
"Sokka..." Hakoda smiled a little. "I think it's sweet that you want to be strong for your sister, but you're allowed to grieve as well." He placed a hand on the back of Sokka's head. "It's okay for a man to cry when he feels pain."
Sokka squeezed his eyes shut as tears began to form.
"I-I just can't believe she's gone, one minute she's smiling and telling us stories and mending our clothes and the next she's dead!" He pounded the furs with a little fist. "I hate the Fire Nation for taking her away, I hate 'em, hate 'em, hate 'em!"
He suddenly grabbed the fabric of his father's coat, tears running down his face; Hakoda quickly wrapped his arms around him, stroking the back of his head.
"I know," he whispered, "I hate them too. And I'm mad at myself for not getting there sooner, if only I could have stopped that man in time, if I'f been stronger..."
Sokka sniffled, rubbing his nose against Hakoda's chest.
"No one is stronger than you, Dad!" he cried. "And it's not your fault, it's theirs. Firebenders are all jerks and we're gonna get back at them someday, right?"
"Yes, son, we will." Hakoda closed his eyes. "For all the pain and suffering they've caused us..."
Sokka felt his father tremble a little and frowned.
"You know, it's okay if you wanna cry too, Dad."
"If only I could." Hakoda smiled sadly. "Maybe one day I'll be able to, but right now, let me be strong for everyone."
But as his father tightened his embrace, Sokka could swear he felt tears that weren't his own against his cheek.