In the heart of the captivating rolling meadows, lived a young shepherd. His life was essentially unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His main role was essentially to care for his herd of rams.

Their soft bleating and the murmuring of the breezes among the single tree on the hilltop were his main co-dwellers. Day after day, guarding his wards instilled in him a notion of tranquil contentment.

But, there were the occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would yearn for fellowship. During one such occasion because of sheer monotony, the shepherd boy devised a naughty scheme.

Stories of wild beasts hunting on sheep had been heard times and again in the town. So, the boy chose to leveraged this fear and played a trick on the here townsfolk.

One afternoon he dashed into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The scared villagers ran up the hills to help but discovered no beast.

The boy laughed at the confusion on their faces. This trick laughed for a few days more. But, one morning, a real wolf actually attack the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy dashed for help, screaming “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. Devastated, he went back to the village only to receive a lesson on honesty and the results of dishonesty.

The story of this shepherd boy has been handed down generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the significance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the risks of false alarms. Moreover, it highlights how trust once lost, is hard to earn back. It's a story as relevant today as it was then.