Deep within the enchanting rolling meadows, lived a shepherd boy. His life was essentially pure, simple, and honest. His only responsibility was to care for his herd of rams.

Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the breezes among the single tree on the mountaintop were his constant associates. Day after day, guarding his charges inculcated in him a notion of quiet fulfillment.

But, there were occasional moments of isolation, when the shepherd boy would pine for companionship. On one such day from sheer tedium, the shepherd boy orchestrated a mischievous plot.

Narratives of wolves prowling on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy chose to used this fear and played a joke on the villagers.

One afternoon he dashed into the village yelling “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers ran up the hills for rescue but saw nothing threatening.

The boy giggled at the puzzle on their faces. This game laughed for a couple of more days. However, one day, a real wolf actually attack the flock. The shepherd boy dashed for help, shouting “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one came.

Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could protect only few of his flock. Heartbroken, he returned to the town only to be met with a reprimand on honesty and the consequences of crying wolf.

His tale of this shepherd boy has been passed down generations click here as a mediaeval parable for teaching the value of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is tough to regain. It's a story as relevant today as it was anciently.