At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.262Please respect copyright.PENANA9HnoNH75YC
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.262Please respect copyright.PENANADakvRNmxAn
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.262Please respect copyright.PENANAGLjCU9lzGr
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.262Please respect copyright.PENANAc6r0xphkl1
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...”262Please respect copyright.PENANAVq9jfkyWvF
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—262Please respect copyright.PENANAE1Lx7C6Ckz
perhaps from the strain,262Please respect copyright.PENANAkHwg6RHfiF
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,262Please respect copyright.PENANAMYHhsLP5WG
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—262Please respect copyright.PENANA1KpKlQL4mu
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,262Please respect copyright.PENANAaYJ8PJJFhe
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,262Please respect copyright.PENANAG6yhf04Tzb
then let us nourish our own,262Please respect copyright.PENANA0cwYfRIgfZ
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.262Please respect copyright.PENANA9wMSivSJ5i
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:262Please respect copyright.PENANAO7KJFrXDKp
“Me too!”
Then a third:262Please respect copyright.PENANA5KwiGBa4rw
“And me!”
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After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.262Please respect copyright.PENANAVKto3FXFNF
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,262Please respect copyright.PENANAF0LiERD9Ch
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——262Please respect copyright.PENANAvoudVgEwXl
and the very first step toward their rebirth.262Please respect copyright.PENANAzz83dxt5nx


