At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDqqFPMhXI
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaWDep4pTA
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnGQRsqmhY
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtvr5h072E
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...”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXTtJOQvig
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI7nfrkz4j
perhaps from the strain,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdvvhBl2I6
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,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWDLnCeTA9
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7mxn0D8Fy
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxnR1qrIKf
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdezm3n4ij
then let us nourish our own,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCZYupSbO5
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ7oLFeSiR
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwKY2pFiJq
“Me too!”
Then a third:22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3hCTryeeA
“And me!”
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After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhWSLWWtRI
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP5JPQJXLt
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——22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J6aqT1M0H
and the very first step toward their rebirth.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDowRHHgAP
