At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FdgTaXPfA
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg2weX42pP
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszYtbqYRzO
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrw8kE5AVo
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...”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtbILSzF9t
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVMVa3hUmM
perhaps from the strain,21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IJE9sBELU
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,21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhMiHu94jl
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweK7zEgP38
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIobwDUDeqx
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYuwEcXtdU
then let us nourish our own,21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZbX4YazVd
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnSbNcQMAT
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnCfVcjcwn
“Me too!”
Then a third:21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLO5568EQx
“And me!”
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After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jwlCiLWsz
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2aiJPxy9o
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——21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISy3GVUAI8
and the very first step toward their rebirth.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I4v8U2byZ
