At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.32Please respect copyright.PENANAYWTBzmxPH2
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.32Please respect copyright.PENANAiqKRpwIPei
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.32Please respect copyright.PENANAJjAgwQOwDA
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.32Please respect copyright.PENANAaNJ00gFkWu
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...”32Please respect copyright.PENANAzWwLSC4i4c
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—32Please respect copyright.PENANAr8ApdN6sIi
perhaps from the strain,32Please respect copyright.PENANA0mShESxXJM
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,32Please respect copyright.PENANAWCQXS2PiYZ
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—32Please respect copyright.PENANA3859kT9AqK
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,32Please respect copyright.PENANAUIZni3o4dh
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,32Please respect copyright.PENANAA4KiuaYX0C
then let us nourish our own,32Please respect copyright.PENANALyf8ZkF8R8
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.32Please respect copyright.PENANAQudCwI1tSM
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:32Please respect copyright.PENANAoAPxq03dgX
“Me too!”
Then a third:32Please respect copyright.PENANAA8Gh4mBhe9
“And me!”
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After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.32Please respect copyright.PENANAnDVJGhp3GX
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,32Please respect copyright.PENANAT9v9CtfAOU
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——32Please respect copyright.PENANA5xY71W9CT3
and the very first step toward their rebirth.32Please respect copyright.PENANAErayH8HVyZ