The ruffle of wings brought Sokka awake. "Hawkie! You came back! Com'ere!" Sokka tossed a piece of last night's fish to the bird, who snapped it up.
"Did he bring a message?" Toph asked, running over to them.
"We're having a moment here, Toph, do you mind?" Sokka turned back to Hawkie, carefully running a finger along the feathers of its back. "Aw, Hawkie don't listen to her. She doesn't know how much I love you."
Toph swore later that earthbending the ground Sokka was standing on into sand was perfectly justified. At least mostly.