The Deceptive Wolf

Once upon a time, in a dense forest, there lived a cunning wolf named Fenrir. Unlike other wolves who hunted fairly, Fenrir relied on tricks and lies to get his way. He was lazy and preferred to deceive others rather than work hard for his food.

One day, as Fenrir wandered through the woods, his stomach growled with hunger. He spotted a flock of sheep grazing peacefully in a meadow near a village. His mouth watered at the sight, but the shepherd and his fierce dogs guarded the sheep closely.

Fenrir knew he couldn’t attack openly, so he hatched a wicked plan.

The Wolf’s First Deception

The next morning, Fenrir found a lost lamb separated from the flock. Instead of attacking, he put on a friendly smile and said, "Little lamb, you are in danger! The shepherd plans to feast on you tonight. Come with me, and I will take you to safety."

The innocent lamb, frightened by the lie, followed Fenrir into the woods. Once they were far enough, the wolf pounced and devoured the poor creature.

Pleased with his trick, Fenrir repeated it the next day, this time telling a young sheep, "Your shepherd is selling all the sheep to the butcher tomorrow! Run away now if you want to live!"

Again, the sheep believed him and met the same fate.

The Wolf’s Overconfidence

Fenrir’s lies worked so well that he grew bolder. One evening, he approached the shepherd himself, pretending to be injured.

"Kind shepherd," he whimpered, "I was attacked by a pack of wild dogs. Please, let me rest in your barn tonight. I mean no harm."

The shepherd, though suspicious, allowed him in, thinking the wolf was truly hurt. But that night, Fenrir sneaked into the sheep pen and killed three more sheep before escaping.

The villagers were furious. They set traps and kept watch, but Fenrir was too clever to be caught.

The Truth Reveals Itself

Days passed, and the shepherd grew tired of losing his sheep. He decided to set a trap of his own—not with ropes or pits, but with the truth.

He gathered his sheep and said, "Listen carefully. The wolf has been lying to you. He tells you I will harm you, but it is he who is the killer. From now on, no matter what he says, do not believe him. Stay together, and do not wander off."

The sheep nodded, finally understanding the wolf’s deception.

The next morning, Fenrir tried his old trick again. He approached a lamb and said, "Dear lamb, the shepherd is planning to—"

But before he could finish, the lamb bleated loudly, alerting the others. The shepherd and his dogs came running, forcing Fenrir to flee.

The Wolf’s Downfall

Frustrated, Fenrir waited for another chance. A few days later, he saw an old goat limping behind the flock. Thinking this would be easy, he approached her.

"Old goat," he said sweetly, "the shepherd thinks you are too weak. He plans to abandon you. Let me help you escape."

The goat, wise with age, narrowed her eyes. "Oh, really? Then why don’t you come closer so I can hear better?"

As Fenrir stepped forward—SNAP!—his paw landed in a hidden trap. He howled in pain as the shepherd and villagers surrounded him.

"You lied to us, killed our sheep, and caused us grief," the shepherd said. "But lies have short legs. The truth always catches up in the end."

With no escape, Fenrir was driven far away, never to trouble the village again.

The Moral of the Story

The sheep and the shepherd learned a valuable lesson: "Lies may win once, but truth wins always." Fenrir’s deceit worked for a time, but when the truth came to light, his tricks failed.

In life, lies might bring temporary gains, but they crumble under the weight of truth. Honesty and trust, though sometimes slow to reward, always prevail in the end.

The End.