At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa2eydcN0I
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8h3jNRDBq
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhokmkdKQO
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8AD8YoXkF
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...”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvrsb9r6BR
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JYOGY2srg
perhaps from the strain,24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSln0boIZc5
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,24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbFJUORA57
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LLTtMaalC
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyfMieKxLW
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMLVoVpxfb
then let us nourish our own,24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuj80oq7w8
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgKBonTDMV
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IiTuXLKAu
“Me too!”
Then a third:24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYDhvFp9ge
“And me!”
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After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzbL73zfMQ
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtN2YeNAul
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——24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohILPwKs0N
and the very first step toward their rebirth.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDNZJbaa8U
