At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4Rf24mkon
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxF9wwOxvM
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB8GXgSMqC
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM425REpgD
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...”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLbgIuuZhn
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9w7oPQ8Zk
perhaps from the strain,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7HZ2Ob0ow
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,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2X7mnxh2P
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRqYT8Tgsk
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicuHHFbh3d
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKQ39zSKUp
then let us nourish our own,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxzzI9m9Uk
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy9hZ2eK4Y
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHffdJdoVr
“Me too!”
Then a third:67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbPu95ScsO
“And me!”
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After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgyedWs4cN
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAB0KsIXjH
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——67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwENxfymd4
and the very first step toward their rebirth.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSncbiEZ57D
