Deep within the enchanting rolling fields, dwelt a boy named Shepherd. His existence was mostly untarnished, simple, and honest. His primary duty was to look after his herd of rams.
Their gentle baas and the rustling of the wind through the lone tree on the hilltop were his constant associates. Day upon day, watching over his wards instilled in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.
However, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would yearn for companionship. In one such instance because of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy orchestrated a troublesome scheme.
Narratives of wild beasts preying on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy decided to leveraged this fear and played a joke on the inhabitants.
One morning he dashed into the village screaming “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills to offer assistance but discovered nothing threatening.
The boy chuckled at the confusion on their faces. This game laughed for a couple of more days. However, one noon, a real wolf did charge at the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy raced for help, shouting more info “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one responded.
Frustrated and alone, the boy battled against the wolf but managed to protect only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he went back to the village only to be met with a lesson on honesty and the repercussions of false alarms.
The tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it stresses how trust once violated, is tough to regain. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.