At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJL3RqAAgPb
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb7h3dJHPp
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfXnfUIm3y
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMaSYnWeMP
And yet, from the ruins, they rose again, rebuilding the will to live.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLssFKoUKn
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSEdYToL7H
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.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyOfJXvKMX
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEfkunsoet
“...Honey...”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZtkx1xKe3
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBldVgJqZI
perhaps from the strain,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXZLGjvccw
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,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTu5wq95li
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QzB9vSaOL
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrahoPPaasQ
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnyg3GRixC
then let us nourish our own,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1AXl0tXfN
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZUwJgq2Ii
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIgmxaMMUL
“Me too!”
Then a third:46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3niiKzvfH
“And me!”
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46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscjIoqb4gI
After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPDkoGeBIe
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DrjRXsMHc
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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46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwd4QCs9Ap
That day was the darkest in their histor——46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMKBh3I8as
and the very first step toward their rebirth.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxGzsChUgT
