The boy who cried wolf

Chapter 1: The Restless Shepherd

Once upon a time, in a quiet little village nestled between rolling green hills and thick forests, there lived a boy named Elias. He was twelve years old, with scruffy brown hair, mischievous green eyes, and a restless spirit that made it difficult for him to sit still.

Elias had one job: to watch over his village’s flock of sheep. His father, a hardworking farmer, had entrusted him with this duty, reminding him daily that the sheep were the village’s livelihood. Their wool provided warmth, their milk was used for cheese, and their young were raised for trade.

But Elias hated his job.

Every morning, he would trudge up the hill with his flock, a wooden staff in hand, and sit beneath a large oak tree. The sheep would lazily graze while he stared at the sky, counting clouds or watching birds flit between the branches.

Shepherding was boring. There were no other children to talk to, no games to play, nothing exciting ever happened. He longed for adventure, for something to break the monotony.

And then, one fateful day, an idea struck him.

Chapter 2: The First Cry

It was a slow afternoon, the sun hanging high, the sheep grazing peacefully. Elias sat tossing pebbles at a tree trunk when a thought came to him.

“What if I had some fun?” he murmured to himself.

A mischievous grin spread across his face as he cupped his hands around his mouth and took a deep breath.

“WOLF! WOLF!” he screamed at the top of his lungs.

His voice echoed down the hill, bouncing off the trees and reaching the village below. Within moments, a group of villagers came running. Farmers with pitchforks, the blacksmith with his hammer, even the baker carrying a rolling pin.

“Where is it?” his father panted, looking around wildly.

Elias clutched his sides, doubled over in laughter.

“There’s no wolf!” he said between gasps. “I just wanted to see if you’d come!”

The villagers stared at him in disbelief.

“You little brat!” snapped Old Man Henry. “You wasted our time!”

His father’s face darkened. “Elias, this is not a game. If a wolf ever does come, no one will believe you.”

But Elias only shrugged. “It was just a joke.”

The villagers grumbled and made their way back to their work, shaking their heads.

Chapter 3: The Second Cry

A few days later, boredom crept in once again. The thrill of the prank still lingered in Elias’s mind, and he found himself tempted to do it again.

“Why not?” he thought. “It’s harmless fun.”

And so, with a wicked grin, he shouted once more, “WOLF! WOLF! HELP!”

Again, the villagers came running, their tools ready. And again, Elias burst into laughter.

The blacksmith scowled. “This isnt funny, boy.”

His father grabbed him by the arm. “Enough, Elias! If you do this again, there will be consequences.”

Elias nodded, pretending to listen, but inside, he was still laughing. The sight of the villagers rushing up the hill, only to find nothing, was too amusing.

Little did he know, the real test of his words was yet to come.

Chapter 4: The Real Wolf

A week later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Elias lay under his usual oak tree, watching the pink and orange hues paint the sky. The sheep were scattered around him, nibbling lazily at the grass.

Then, a rustling in the bushes caught his attention.

At first, he dismissed it as the wind, but then he heard a low, guttural growl. His blood ran cold.

Emerging from the shadows was a wolf.

Its fur was dark as the night, its eyes glowing yellow, its fangs bared. It was larger than any wolf Elias had ever imagined, and it moved with a silent, deadly grace.

Panic surged through him.

“WOLF! WOLF! HELP!” he screamed, his voice raw with terror.

But the village did not stir.

“HELP ME! PLEASE!”

No one came.

The wolf crept forward, eyes locked onto a lamb that had strayed too far from the herd. Elias grabbed his staff, shaking as he tried to wave it threateningly.

The wolf lunged.

The lamb let out a terrified bleat as the wolf sank its teeth into its throat, dragging it into the bushes. Elias could only watch, frozen with fear.

He turned and sprinted down the hill, his legs burning as he ran all the way to the village.

He burst into the town square, breathless. “The wolf! It’s real! It took a lamb!”

The villagers barely looked up from their work.

“Nice try,” scoffed Old Man Henry.

“I swear! It’s real this time!” Elias pleaded, grabbing his father’s arm. “Please, you have to believe me!”

His father sighed, shaking his head. “You lied too many times, son.”

Tears welled up in Elias’s eyes. “But I’m telling the truth now!”

His father’s face was filled with disappointment. “You brought this upon yourself.”

No one moved. No one listened.

Defeated, Elias trudged back up the hill alone.

Chapter 5: A Lesson in Truth

Elias arrived at the pasture just in time to see the wolf strike again.

Another sheep, dragged into the forest.

Then another.

The flock was scattering in panic, their frightened bleats filling the night air. Elias gripped his staff and stepped forward, his heart hammering in his chest.

He had to do something.

With a shaking hand, he picked up a rock and hurled it at the wolf. It struck the creature’s side, and with a snarl, the beast turned to face him.

Elias barely had time to react before the wolf lunged.

He stumbled backward, swinging his staff wildly. The wood connected with the wolf’s snout, and it yelped in surprise. But it wasn’t deterred.

Elias knew he wouldn’t last long.

Then, just as the wolf prepared to strike again, a sharp whistle cut through the air.

Torches blazed in the darkness.

The villagers.

His father led the charge, wielding a pitchfork. The blacksmith swung his hammer, and the other men shouted, driving the wolf back.

The beast snarled but knew it was outnumbered. With one last growl, it turned and vanished into the forest.

Elias collapsed to his knees, trembling.

His father knelt beside him. “Are you hurt?”

Elias shook his head, fresh tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I should never have lied.”

His father sighed, pulling him into a tight embrace. “Trust, once broken, is hard to earn back. But you have taken the first step.”

The villagers gathered around, some shaking their heads, others offering quiet words of reassurance.

Elias had learned his lesson the hardest way possible.

From that day forward, he never told another lie.

And when he grew older, he made sure to teach his own children the importance of honesty—so that they would never make the same mistake he did.