Deep within the mesmerizing rolling fields, lived a shepherd boy. His being was essentially unadulterated, simple, and honest. His main role was mainly to tend to his herd of rams.
Their soft bleating and the rustling of the wind among the single tree on the hilltop were his constant associates. Day after day, watching over his wards instilled in him a feeling of tranquil contentment.
However, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would yearn for fellowship. During one such occasion out of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy orchestrated a mischievous plot.
Narratives of wolves prowling on sheep had been around for a while in the town. So, the boy chose to leveraged this fear and played a joke on the townsfolk.
One morning he dashed into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf preying on my sheep!” The frightened villagers sprinted up the hills to offer assistance but discovered no wolf.
The boy chuckled at the puzzle more info on their faces. This prank laughed for a few days more. However, one morning, a real wolf actually come to prey the herd. The shepherd boy raced for help, screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy struggled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his sheep. Heartbroken, he went back to the village only to receive a reprimand on honesty and the repercussions of false alarms.
The story of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable to teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it emphasizes how trust once broken, is tough to regain. It's a story as appropriate today as it was in the past.