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Zam approaches Spoke as he watches District 13 gear up, he clears his throat as to not startle the trapper, “Spoke, may I talk to you a moment?”
Spoke looks over and nods, waving him to a side room, “What’s up, Zam?”
“Hey, so about that debt I owe you…?” Zam begins.
“Ah, I figured you would ask about that sooner or later. Look, you survive this battle with the Law and I will consider us even. It will give me at least a more direct shot at Leo. Sound good?” Spoke asks, folding his arms, looking at the fallen monarch.
“Sounds good. Thanks, Spoke.” Zam nods. Spoke nods back, walking past the yellow haired man, patting his shoulder.
“Good talk, now go prep. You gotta survive this to get out of my debt.”
Zam shakes his head in amusement before joining the rest of the rebellion.
****
Zam sits on the edge of the speech stage, looking over the war-torn ground below him. Raxby’s shield laying on the ground next to him. He watches the sun begin to illuminate the remains of Northern Council, his thoughts racing about the events of Lettuce’s surrender and the subsequent decision of his capture and not execution. Zam sighs as he pushes himself up from where he was sitting, brushing the pebbles off his hands with two quick motions before leaning down and picking Raxby’s shield up from the ground. He drops down to the remains of the Northern Council and begins his trek through the ruins.
He steps carefully through the crowd control walls and steps onto the main path; he looks around carefully. It’s an odd feeling being out in the open again. He doesn’t like it. He looks down at Raxby’s shield, then he looks over at the standing wall of the Northern Council and he approaches it. He kneels and leans the shield against the wall.
“Hopefully Sarge will reclaim this before someone else takes it.” Zam touches the shield one more time before standing with a deep sigh, “The war is finally over. Time to go home. Man, I wish I had horse or a happy ghast.” Zam frowns and begins the long walk.
****
Zam pushes his way through the front door with an exhausted groan, “How the heck did Lettuce find me all the way out here?” He makes his way over to the small kitchen, digging through the barrels for a moment. Before he notices something with a frown, “How…?”
A sword swishes at him, causing his already alerted nerves to go into action, unsheathing his own sword, stepping back from the opponent’s sword and sending his own attack at the assailant. He and his opponent trade blows a couple of times, before Zam finally locks his sword with the other’s like Mapicc taught him. Zam flicks his sword quickly to the side, throwing the other’s sword away before following up the sword movement with a harsh kick to the chest.
He stands his foot on his opponent’s chest, looking down at the pangolin, “You’ve gotten sloppy, Pangi.”
Pangi blinks the fog of war out of his eyes, focusing on the yellow-haired man above him finally, “Z-Zam?”
Zam steps back and offers a hand to his former guard, “Hi.” Pangi takes the hand up and before Zam can continue, Pangi pulls him into a hug. A tight one like he was trying to make up time. Zam stands there stunned for a moment, patting his head awkwardly for a second. As Pangi doesn’t let go, Zam rolls his eyes and returns his friend’s hug, dropping the sword to not hurt him.
“I didn’t think I would see you again after Lettuce took you.” Pangi admits, finally releasing the retired monarch.
“Man, do I have a story to tell you.” Zam smirks as he reaches down for his sword and sheathes it, “But first, I just walked a really long distance, I am going to steal some of your food and we can settle down.” Pangi nods excitedly. The two friends settle back into the retirement house for now, Zam telling his friend everything that happened after Lettuce took him.