At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvbTw3Qq1r
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpmyERrhCT
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb5xqFd8Rs
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPn4pe7KSj
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...”33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvLsPMNRrL
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunqQ7retBk
perhaps from the strain,33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FbRJH2yE6
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,33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1Wv8hWdYc
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTxLCIqpGY
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevoSQC3e8D
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDMfvnnqQQ
then let us nourish our own,33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxSceWIZ39
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa02CnoD35H
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEM03n4uCRi
“Me too!”
Then a third:33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5m6Lezc5K
“And me!”
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After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzRjnKKNhR
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6yUfzydlE
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——33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfEVfQDwXQ
and the very first step toward their rebirth.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTulWqL9W9w
