"It was time to seek the Shaman," thought Armando as he watched his wife cradle their newborn baby. Tears streamed down her face as she gazed at their child's still form.
"What will happen to her?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Armando wrapped his arms around his family, trying to be strong for them. "She will be fine," he said, though he was unsure if he believed it himself.
His wife shook her head, her tears falling faster. "She's barely breathing, and her eyes won't open. What if we lose her?"
Armando had no answer for her. All he could do was hold them both and wait.
Finally, the Shaman arrived. He took the baby into his arms, and Armando and his wife followed him outside into the moonlit night.
As they walked, Armando's fear grew. They were heading toward the forbidden land, a place where no human had ever returned from.
"We can't go there, Shaman Kadmoh. It's too dangerous," Armando protested.
But the Shaman pressed on, leading them closer to the border. Armando and his wife heard the howls of animals in the distance, and their knees shook with fear.
When they reached the border, the Shaman spread sage powder and lit a fire. He began to pray, and Armando and his wife watched in awe as massive wolves appeared in the distance.
One wolf, in particular, stood out from the rest. Its eyes burned with power, and its fur was a deep black. Armando and his wife couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as they looked upon the imposing figure.
"He is the Alpha," the Shaman said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The couple didn't know what to do or say. They were in the presence of creatures they had only heard about in legends.
The Alpha approached them slowly, his eyes never leaving the baby in the Shaman's arms. Finally, he spoke.
"She is promised to us. We will protect her," he said.
Armando and his wife didn't know what to make of his words, but the Shaman seemed to understand. He nodded his head and handed the baby to the Alpha.
And just like that, the Alpha and his pack disappeared into the night, leaving Armando and his wife standing alone with the Shaman.
"What just happened?" Armando asked, still in shock.
The Shaman smiled. "Your daughter has a special destiny. She is meant to be with the wolves, to be one of them. They will raise her as their own and keep her safe."
Armando and his wife didn't know what to say. They had always feared the wolves, but now they were entrusting their child to them.
As they made their way back home, Armando couldn't shake the feeling that their lives would never be the same again.