Deep within the enchanting rolling hills, lived a boy named Shepherd. His being was essentially pure, simple yet virtuous. His main role was mainly to look after his herd of rams.
Their low murmuring and the whispering of the wind through the solo tree on the peak were his constant companions. Day after day, looking out for his responsibilities imbued in him a feeling of quiet fulfillment.
But, there were at times moments of solitude, when the shepherd boy would yearn for company. During one such occasion from sheer monotony, the shepherd boy devised a mischievous plan.
Stories of predators prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the hamlet. So, the boy opted to leveraged this fear and played a trick on the townsfolk.
One day he dashed into the village shouting “Wolf! A wolf is attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers sprinted up the hills to offer assistance but saw no wolf.
The boy giggled at the dilemma on their faces. This game continued for a couple of more days. However, one day, a real wolf did come to prey the herd. The shepherd boy raced for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Devastated, he went back to the town only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the results of crying wolf.
The tale here of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the dangers of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once broken, is difficult to reclaim. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.