Thé favorite flock

Let me tell you about the boy who cried wolf.

There was once an orphan shepherd boy.

The shepherd wished to be the best the world had ever seen — in memory of his father. He'd have a strong flock, and sweet pastures. He dreamed of becoming the mightiest shepherd. Protector of the flock, trusted, respected. Valued.

The shepherd boy already had much to be grateful for, yet he felt dissatisfied. Still felt… unsafe.

His father had been eaten by a wolf, you see.

So what did he do? The smartest thing he could.

He lied.

The shepherd boy, from his mountain cried 'WOLF! WOLF!' And all the villagers came running to his aid. They ran swiftly because they too knew the great wolf who had eaten his father alive. The villagers had all suffered tremendously after the loss.

They asked him 'where's the wolf?! We'll get him this time!'

'He's just beyond the forest wall! I promise, he's on the other side!'

The villagers took up arms and went hunting for it. A great wolf to which no other compared. After searching through the shrubland, the villagers went home not quite empty handed.

The shepherd saw how well this had worked, how the villagers came running to his side and thought 'if I cry wolf, all the villagers will return. We'll have strength in numbers. We'll protect the flock together.'

He was shrewd the next time and waited for the dust to settle, for the deer, the birds, and the fox to come from the forest, shadows on the horizon. That would alert the villagers.

He ran back to the top of the mountain and cried again "WOLF! WOLF!" And all the villagers came running with arms. They slew the deer, the birds, the fox, and when the villagers came close, they saw there was no wolf laying with the dead. "Where is the wolf you speak of?" asked the villagers.

"I promise you, the wolf snuck into the forest when he saw you running to my side! The wolf is frightened. Next time we'll get him. His time is numbered!"

"What can we do?" asked the villagers.

"We need to cut into the forest so the wolf cannot hide! That's what we shall do to protect our flock."

"Excellent idea! We'll cut down the trees, the wolf will have nowhere to run."

So the villagers went back home, and the shepherd prepared the plan.

Once prepared, the shepherd stood on the mountain once more and cried "WOLF! WOLF!"

The villagers this time came running with their bulldozers, their tanks, and their bombs. They would not let the wolf get away this time.

They destroyed the forest, shouting to the creatures who lived there: "WOLF! WOLF! THERE WILL NEVER BE PEACE! IT'S OUR RIGHT TO DEFEND OURSELVES!

CREATURES OF THE FOREST, RUN SOUTH IF YOU WISH TO BE SPARED YOUR LIVES!"

…

That wolf they sought was well fed from beyond his grave.

Yet there was a greater wolf alive and well.

The Great Blind Wolf.

A wolf who is forever starving.

A wolf who swallows every meal whole because he cannot see what's next.

A wolf who devours anything breathing he can come within reach of.

A wolf who blinded himself.

You know how he became the greatest?

He forgot who he was, quite simply.

He forgot how he came to lose his sight.

Forgot that he plucked out his own eyes.

He forgot so completely he was never a wolf at all — forgot that he was not whole as one part. He was many.

This wolf was once the favourite flock.