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