[Ultimately, it's less about Bucky's approach and more about Sokka's perspective as someone who has traveled the world without adult guidance for nearly a year. In his mind, he isn't a child, and he's more than capable of making his own decisions; that's what he's been doing throughout his time with Team Avatar. He's planned an invasion for adult warriors, and even though that didn't end the way he wanted to, Sokka feels like he was reaching the level of pride he wanted his father to have in him — until it all fell apart. To show up to a place where he's out of his element, with adults like Crazy Neighbor Lady treating him like a child and Bucky making Sokka's approach to battle sound like it's foolish — it hits a raw nerve. It's usually the other way around for him — he has judged many adults as being stupid or blind or downright dangerous in their rigid inability to think clearly. He doesn't want that turned around on him.

But he knows that he's working from a big disadvantage, and that's exactly what he's trying to fix. So he leads the way without further comment about hiding away or fighting. He slips back into trying to soak up as much as he can.]

Really? [He gives Bucky a surprised look.] I didn't think it'd be that easy. [To find a book store or library, he means.] The last time I went to a library, I had to [go to a desert, then go underground...and then escape an angry owl spirit...] travel pretty far. Do you think they'll have a map of this place? [Then, as an afterthought:] I can read. [Books and maps both.]

[It's clear he's a little excited by the prospect, earlier mood dissipating in favor of putting together a plan. If he can read a few books and get a copy of a map, he might be able to arm himself with enough knowledge to leave this place.]