The wolves were howling and digging up a fresh grave. People from the entire village gathered, and when they opened it, they were paralyzed by what they saw

Soon, a long-awaited event occurred in their lives: Olena Mariia became pregnant. This news filled the couple with indescribable joy—their dream of having a child was finally coming true. They hurried to share this news with their forest friends. Taras vividly recalls the day he and his wife went to the wolves and told them about the forthcoming child. Some might find it absurd, as animals do not understand human speech. But Taras would swear that the wolves somehow sensed their joy. They rushed to the couple, licking them as if to congratulate them. Perhaps they simply felt their friends’ happiness and chose to share it, unaware of the reason. Be that as it may, this touching scene remained forever etched in the memories of Olena Mariia and Taras.

Soon, the couple welcomed a beautiful daughter, whom they named Sofia. Their dream had come true, and for the next three years, they were immensely happy with their daughter. They instilled in her a love for animals, which was so important to their family. When Sofia turned two, her parents decided she was ready for her first meeting with the wolves, who had become part of their lives. For the couple, it was a routine outing, as they fully trusted these animals. By then, the wolves were six years old, looking more mature and robust, even slightly formidable. But as soon as the Shevchenkos appeared, the wolves turned into affectionate puppies, joyfully greeting the family and curiously meeting little Sofia.

Under the watchful eyes of Olena Mariia and Taras, the girl was allowed to play near the wolves. The parents were confident that the animals would never harm her. These meetings became a tradition: every Sunday after church, the family set out to the forest to visit their loyal friends. The wolves, in turn, grew attached to Sofia, and she reciprocated their affection. For the little girl, these animals were not just friends but a part of her world.

However, the family’s happy life came to an abrupt halt when Sofia suddenly fell ill at the age of three. The girl developed a fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, and her parents, gripped by despair, did not know what to do. They immediately took her to the local hospital, which, unfortunately, lacked modern equipment for accurate diagnostics. The doctors did their best, but soon delivered devastating news to the parents: Sofia had died. This news shattered the hearts of Olena Mariia and Taras. They could not believe that after so many years of struggling to have a child, their daughter had left them.

At least, that’s what the doctors said. Sofia’s body was handed over to her parents, and the devastated family organized a funeral at the local cemetery. The entire town, including friends and relatives, gathered to support the Shevchenkos in their grief. Everyone knew how deeply the couple had longed for their daughter and how profoundly they were suffering this loss. After the funeral, Olena Mariia and Taras returned home, feeling an emptiness that nothing could fill.

Just five hours later, they received astonishing news: wolves were digging up their daughter’s grave. The couple was stunned. Could it really be their wolves? They rushed to the cemetery and saw local residents trying to drive away three wolves, who, indeed, were their acquaintances. Two of them were frantically digging the earth, while the third stood guard, growling at anyone who approached. Olena Mariia and Taras could not believe their eyes. Why were the wolves doing this?..