At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXUvaXmkN3
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADGBXhswWL
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmyeO30DX6
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKdmSOfGkt
And yet, from the ruins, they rose again, rebuilding the will to live.
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69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ypst8SDu8
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...”69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMJ71KNBgr
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqsE5UODqj
perhaps from the strain,69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1ClgTS8Gf
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,69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf6FkGsBn0
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVbQ3RKB4X
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUONagHspz
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm7s2ZAZjo
then let us nourish our own,69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDSvFs0TfA
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4swWU6tJGb
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUapqL2aTEG
“Me too!”
Then a third:69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnbj1eIIF7
“And me!”
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After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHdiywC2ap
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6so7nTXroT
soaking their fur, turning even the taste bitter.
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69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAxq8oF1ON
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——69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjfF6kQMhE
and the very first step toward their rebirth.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNniK0NGW7
