At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRBrShzoa3
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWw3fq7nzV
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANQ3t2ePGq
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDOkFPN2w1
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...”70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNkZAHr0W6
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYwH6oDKji
perhaps from the strain,70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FjvZ5itNX
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,70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAhEFLoz5G
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCgUQ6L243
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9OT9QHmhi
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbkTb5QB2G
then let us nourish our own,70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA8ntWzD0G
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKYeNcjkio
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslNpcyhqCb
“Me too!”
Then a third:70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnnBancAkB
“And me!”
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After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFopcTHUfdX
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKnRfVlB9H
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——70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kgDgjY1Fn
and the very first step toward their rebirth.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxh8XS1MRi
