The Story of A Wolf and His Master

"Sometimes, freedom can be far more greater when we serve a master..."

Once upon a time, there was a shepherd. The shepherd was tending his sheep, when suddenly he heard a small cry. He went to look at the direction of the sound, look! It was a young wolf pup. The pup seemed lonely and fragile. “He maybe a wolf, but he is still young. If I would raise him as a shepherd dog, things might turn differently”, he said to himself. Because of empathy, the shepherd took the young pup to his house and there he fed and raised it like any domesticated animal.


But the occasional attack of wolves is the shepherd’s biggest problem. The wolves attacking in packs, would try to prey on the sheep. However, none of them may ever touch the sheep as long as he is there. The shepherd, armed with his trusty rifle, would kill the ravenous wolves, even before they could kill any of his sheep. With each night of their attack, the shepherd would always defend his beloved herd. The wolves would retreat afterwards, leaving the bodies of their dead comrades and planning for their next attack.


The shepherd continued taking good care of the wolf pup and raised him as a shepherd dog. Though a wolf, he was thoroughly trusted with managing the whole herd. He never tottered on anything. He lives with his kind master, sleeps warm near the fireplace inside the house and eats the same meal that his master has. He was trusted in his duty; taking care of the flock and guarding it against any intruders.


Time came that the wolf attacks became more recent. Night after night, wolves would come down the mountain and once again, commencing their attacks in larger groups. However, they would always fail, because the shepherd’s is always ready for them, thanks to his loyal partner, whom with vigilance and alertness, guards the flock.


But one day, while on watch, a sly and cunning wolf came to talk to the shepherd dog:


“Hello there my friend, how are you?”, greeted the cunning wolf.


“What brings you here, dirty wolf?” the shepherd dog said.


“Ay, ay, ay! What are you saying? I am a dirty wolf?” the cunning wolf asked.


“Yes, you are…and now you are finished.”


“You call me dirty, eh? But have you seen yourself yet? My friend, you are never a shepherd dog. You never were. Within you lies the blood of our kin. You are a wolf...”


The shepherd dog was insulted. “Call me a wolf, once more…and you’ll be sorry!” the shepherd dog snarled in an aggressive stance.


“Halt!” said the cunning wolf putting his paw front face upon the shepherd dog. “I didn’t came here as an enemy. I came here as a brother. I am just telling you the truth. You are a witness of how many of our brothers and sisters died in the hands of that human and you were being part of it? However, if you would join our clan, things might change for you and you would be forgiven”.


“What made you think I would join you? Ridiculous! Never will be part of your dirty clan.” He said with disgust.


 “Wouldn’t you want to live with absolute freedom and liberty? Wouldn’t you want to cross the woods and be one with nature? You can eat anything and sleep all you want. No one will tell you what to do, you are your own master! You can do anything! You can be free!”


“Stop talking nonsense! I won’t believe you. I am not a wolf!” he said as pounced towards the wolf. However, the wolf managed to dodge his attack.


 “Oh, so you don’t? But it is okay. At least, I gave you something to think about. If you ever want to accept my offer, all you have to do is to look for us in the deepest part of the woods. We will cordially accept you if you would join us…or rather you would want to live with a collar and chain. Ha! Ha! Ha!” the cunning wolf said as he dashed on his way back.


 The shepherd dog was left alone, thinking of the things that wolf has said to him. Was he really a wolf? Is my master really holding me back? Is everything the wolf said about freedom and liberty is true? These things he asked himself.


One day, the shepherd dog tried to talk to the sly wolf.


“You! Tell me about everything that you know.” he said.


The wolf smiled.


“Finally, you are willing to listen.”


And so, the cunning wolf continued to poison the thoughts of the shepherd dog. Using a friendly demeanor and smoothly-spoken words, he continued to deceive him. The shepherd dog kept listening and thinking about, he started doubting his master and himself. Clouded by twisted thoughts, his loyalty to his master slowly diminished.


One day, he decided to take a look at the wolves’ lair located in a wasteland across the darkest part of the forest. There, he encountered a group of wolves.


“My brothers, look who just came! It’s him!” howled one wolf.


 So you had the courage to face us in our own territory? Now, you’re dead meat!” another said.


 But suddenly, a voice spoke from the shadows.


 “Stop my brothers, he is one of us...”


 Finally, a shadowy figure walked towards the dog. It was the sly wolf.


 “I would have to admire your courage of getting here. So have you decided yet?”


 “Yes…I am tired of this life. I wanted to know what it is like to be free in the wild. I am no longer anyone’s dog. From now on, I am going to live my life as a wolf.”


Hearing this, the cunning wolf rejoiced and howled in delight. Later on, the wolf became the shepherd dog’s friend and he was later on welcomed by the other members of the pack.


The next day, the shepherd dog didn’t return. The shepherd came out looking for his lost, beloved pet and friend. He was very sad and lonely that he looked for him for days. The shepherd dog on the other hand, joined with his new friends and took part with their activities. He was so drawn too much with his new set of friends and enjoying so much freedom, that he forgot everything about his master.


Long time had passed. One day, the council of the wolves started to have a meeting. The pack leader spoke:


“My brothers, we all know remember how great the flock that the shepherd is taking care of. And we all know that many of our brethren have risked their lives to bring home the prize. But now is time! Tomorrow, the moon is full. At midnight, we will commence our attack, all of us! The whole flock will be ours for the taking!”


The whole pack howled in great delight. However, there is one who is hesitant of his actions. It is none other than the former dog of the shepherd. He didn’t notice how much he changed. His clean fur coat is now long, rough and dirty. So did his claws. Now he really looked like a wild wolf. But at that moment, he remembered his master. So moved to speak:


“I will not join you. That was my former home and master. I can’t afford to do any evil to his household.” he said.


“So it seems to you. But this is either you with us or against us…” the pack leader said, “There is nothing more you can do, you are one of us now. So you will follow my very command or else. You can never betray us; the way you did to your master.”


He was terribly shocked. Everything that was said to him, he discovered to be a big lie. Joining them was a big mistake. But it was too late.


Finally, night came. At the cry of their pack leader, the whole pack rushed to its ferocious conquering. However, it turned out that the shepherd already anticipated everything and was expecting the attack that night. So he managed to call the help of some friends. Armed with their rifles, one by one, the pack of wolves began to decrease in number. All wolves are finally exterminated, except one; the shepherd’s dog. Master and servant finally met face to face.


“Master, master, don’t kill me! It’s me your shepherd dog. Don’t you remember?” he said to his master.


But the shepherd said to him: “I never knew you. My beloved dog will never join to do such abominable thing.” After saying those words, the shepherd pulled the trigger of his gun and with the sound of a gunshot that echoing to the mountains, which brought the wolf to his sad and pitiful end.

- Story written by Sir Night Celestine

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