At the edge of extinction, some decisions were never choices.64Please respect copyright.PENANADpfW9z7RSp
In the darkness, they learned what it meant to be one another.64Please respect copyright.PENANAAoSe2UvvAu
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The invasions were relentless, driving the tribe to the brink of collapse.64Please respect copyright.PENANA9nBNoZqfU0
Survival of the fittest——cruel, but enduring.64Please respect copyright.PENANA3PSHZQW7Ry
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...”64Please respect copyright.PENANA9MtC1xPOfZ
He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“If I die… please eat me.”
The foreleg pressing against his wound trembled—64Please respect copyright.PENANAw3AzLqUQBT
perhaps from the strain,64Please respect copyright.PENANAPpRH5utwjM
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,64Please respect copyright.PENANAPKEW21xaRv
and reached out with his other thick hoof.
Slowly, he touched his wife’s snout—64Please respect copyright.PENANAuca5s516bC
leaving behind a warm, red streak.
“You know this kind of wound… won’t heal.”
“Rather than be eaten by them,64Please respect copyright.PENANAMULHOuZNf8
I’d rather you live.”
Then, lifting his head, he shouted toward the center of the cave:
“If we must die,64Please respect copyright.PENANAPobMLGJa6D
then let us nourish our own,64Please respect copyright.PENANA2z7wtwEu63
not feed our enemies!”
Silence fell.64Please respect copyright.PENANAAEtpj8UIcB
Every breath in the cave stilled.
A few seconds later, another pig spoke up:64Please respect copyright.PENANAuY82OHBXug
“Me too!”
Then a third:64Please respect copyright.PENANAPogHIaJYEJ
“And me!”
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After days of starvation, they finally had something to eat.64Please respect copyright.PENANA3aGFNm83BD
It should have been a joyful moment.
But for some reason, tears began to fall,64Please respect copyright.PENANAyDItrWeKAB
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——64Please respect copyright.PENANA3FiLXYMvZE
and the very first step toward their rebirth.64Please respect copyright.PENANAgw2OW04rAy