At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2C1mF1BNI
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYgTiyax9A
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79yxgTDL8r
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK9c1hkt4z
And yet, from the ruins, they rose again, rebuilding the will to live.
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In a small cave, the few remaining pigs were packed tightly together.
After relentless attacks, casualties had steadily mounted.
The exhausted herd had no room to breathe, let alone recover.
The air reeked of blood and damp earth, and even their breathing felt heavy.
In one corner, a large pig was pressing down hard on another pig’s hind leg with his front hoof—
But upon closer look, there was… nothing left there at all.
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“...Honey...”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIGTm7PF0i
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXAXQ3W3Fr
perhaps from the strain,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlckHu5bZR
or perhaps the weight of those words.
“What are you saying… You’ll be okay. You have to make it through!”
The wounded pig let out a faint smile, gasped a few breaths,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLljQ5mnkwB
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGSULerd7i
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrOgLRZI4I
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfl64R1W7on
then let us nourish our own,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8wt2nmRpJ
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxV7FUm2xL
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5YCWt1Ikc
“Me too!”
Then a third:16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95eC1D0VL6
“And me!”
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After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnvprZyrr6
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVrgjCuC5z
soaking their fur, turning even the taste bitter.
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A slightly smaller pig gripped a stick between its front hooves, trying to lift it.
Clack——
The stick fell.
He didn’t make a sound, just bent down to pick it up again.
This time, he squeezed harder— even lifted one hoof slightly.
Thud——
It dropped again.
He stared at the stick for a few seconds, his nose twitching.
I can’t rely on the warriors alone…
He picked the stick up once more, moving even more slowly this time. His front hooves trembled from the tension.
As long as I have a weapon…
Maybe… I can protect myself too.
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That day was the darkest in their histor——16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KkeIR2VdB
and the very first step toward their rebirth.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiaWVFqN7O
