In the heart of the mesmerizing rolling hills, lived a young shepherd. His existence was mostly unadulterated, simple yet virtuous. His main role was mainly to care for his herd of sheep.

Their low murmuring and the whispering of the wind among the lone tree on the mountaintop were his only companions. Day upon day, watching over his wards imbued in him a sense of calm satisfaction.

But, there were occasional moments of loneliness, when the shepherd boy would pine for company. During one such occasion because of sheer boredom, the shepherd boy conceived a troublesome scheme.

Narratives of wild beasts prowling on sheep had long been circulating here in the village. So, the boy chose to exploit this fear and played a trick on the inhabitants.

One day he ran into the village shouting “Wolf! There is a wolf attacking my sheep!” The frightened villagers sprinted up the hills to offer assistance but found nothing threatening.

The boy laughed at the dilemma on their faces. This trick continued for a few more days. But, one morning, a real wolf did attack the grazing sheep. The shepherd boy ran for aid screaming “Wolf, Wolf!” But this time, no one showed up.

Frustrated and alone, the boy fought against the wolf but could rescue only few of his flock. Devastated, he returned to the town only to be met with a scolding on honesty and the results of crying wolf.

His tale of this shepherd boy has been transmitted generations as a mediaeval parable for teaching the importance of honesty, the consequences of lying and the perils of crying wolf. Moreover, it highlights how trust once broken, is hard to reclaim. It's a story as appropriate today as it was anciently.