The wolf appears on the horizon, her once-proud fur matted and streaked with dirt. She hobbles toward the house, hands trembling, raised high in surrender.
The third pig peers through the peephole, cautious and resolute, clutching a gleaming kitchen knife.
"What are you doing here?"
"I’ve come to surrender," her voice rasps, barely carrying over the evening breeze. She lowers her gaze, exhaustion etched into every line of her face.
The third pig opens the door, stepping aside warily. The wolf limps in, offering her wrists without protest.
"You hurt my brothers. Why should I trust you?"
"I am too weak to fight. My wounds have left me barely able to walk. I accept whatever fate you decide."
The pig binds her hands tightly, his eyes never leaving hers, searching for any sign of deception. The wolf stands silent as her ankles are tied, surrender absolute.
the pig[/@ch_2] prepares a bowl of seasoning, his movements precise and deliberate. The oven door creaks open, its interior glowing with fierce, hungry heat.]
The pig approaches the wolf, shaving away her ragged fur with steady hands, revealing pale, trembling skin beneath.
"You will pay for what you’ve done," he mutters, sprinkling salt and herbs across her limbs.
"I have no defense. I accept your justice," she whispers, her eyes fixed on a distant point beyond the kitchen window.
The pig slides the tray toward the oven, the fire’s glow flickering across his determined face. The wolf remains motionless, her breath shallow, her fate accepted.
"May this be enough to honor my brothers," he says quietly, pushing the tray into the heat.
The wolf does not struggle, her eyes closing as the warmth envelops her. The pig watches, conflicted but resolute, remembering the laughter of his lost siblings.
"I hope you find peace," she murmurs softly, voice barely audible over the crackling fire.
The pig sets the table for one, the meal before him a tribute to the brothers he lost and the justice he claimed. Outside, birds begin to sing, and the world carries on, changed by the choices made within these brick walls.
