The Crying Wolf

    By Ahinara

    The Crying Wolf cover image

    18 Mar, 2024

    a wolf sitting in the middle of a forest with berries on the ground and trees in the background,, furry art, a character portrait, Chris LaBrooy, official art

    Once upon a time, in a faraway forest, there lived a little wolf named Wally. Unlike his fierce and dangerous family, Wally was gentle and loved nothing more than nibbling on juicy berries from the bushes.

    a wolf sitting in a forest with berries around him and a sun shining through the trees behind him,, fantasy art, a character portrait, Chris LaBrooy, berries

    Every day, Wally would quietly slip away from his family's den to his secret berry patch. He would spend hours there, enjoying the sweet and tangy fruits, his heart light with joy.

    a man in a suit and tie standing in front of a group of wolfs in a forest with trees, furry art, a character portrait, Caspar Wolf, furaffinity

    However, Wally's family was not at all pleased with his habits. They believed that a real wolf should be fierce and powerful, not gentle and fruit-loving. They wanted Wally to be like them.

    a wolf standing in the middle of a forest with two other animals behind it and a full moon in the background, furry art, a storybook illustration, Caspar Wolf, official art

    One day, they decided to send Wally to a reform school for wolves. They believed that the school would make him tougher, fiercer, and more like a traditional wolf.

    a wolf standing in a forest with a full moon in the background and trees and berries around it,, furry art, a character portrait, Dan Mumford, comic cover art

    Wally was heartbroken. He had to leave his beloved forest and berries behind. As he walked away, he looked back one last time, promising himself that he would return one day.

    a man standing in front of a large group of wolfs in a room with windows and a door, furry art, a comic book panel, Benjamin Marra, furaffinity

    The reform school was a scary place for Wally. The other wolves were larger and more aggressive. Despite feeling out of place, Wally was determined to make the best of it.

    a wolf standing on a log in a forest with trees and ferns on the ground and a sun shining through the trees, furry art, an illustration of, Dan Mumford, official art

    Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Wally learned to howl louder, run faster, and hunt better. On the outside, he seemed to be turning into the fierce wolf his family wanted.

    a wolf sitting in the woods with berries around him and a sun shining through the trees behind it,, furry art, a character portrait, Brom, forest

    However, deep inside, Wally still missed his peaceful days in the forest, eating berries. He missed the sweet taste of the fruits and the joy they brought him.

    a man standing in front of a group of foxes in a forest with trees and grass behind him, with a forest background, furry art, an album cover, Caspar Wolf, furaffinity

    After a year, Wally graduated from the reform school. He was not the same gentle wolf anymore; he was now fierce and agile. His family was thrilled to see the change.

    a wolf sitting in the middle of a forest with apples on the ground and trees in the background with red berries, sots art, a storybook illustration, Caspar Wolf, official art

    Although he had become a more traditional wolf, Wally never forgot his love for fruits. When he had the chance, he would sneak away to his secret berry patch.

    a wolf sitting in the woods with a berry in his mouth and a forest background with trees and berries, furry art, a character portrait, Caspar Wolf, trending on art station

    His heart would fill with joy as he munched on the berries. The taste reminded him of the old days, of the wolf he used to be, and the wolf he still was inside.

    a wolf sitting in the middle of a forest with apples on the ground and trees in the background,, fantasy art, a character portrait, Brom, official art

    As time passed, Wally began to realize that it was okay to be different. He understood that he could be both fierce and gentle, a hunter and a fruit-lover.

    a man surrounded by four wolfs and a berry bowl with berries on it, with a forest background, furry art, a storybook illustration, Aaron Jasinski, furaffinity

    Wally decided to embrace his unique personality. He proudly shared his love for berries with his family, and to his surprise, they didn't reject him as he feared.

    a group of wolfs standing in a forest with berries and berries on the ground and berries on the ground, furry art, an album cover, Caspar Wolf, furaffinity

    Instead, they tried the berries for the first time and found that they liked them too. They realized that there was more to being a wolf than just being fierce and dangerous.

    two wolfs sitting on a rock in the woods with a full moon in the background and a forest scene with rocks and trees, furry art, an album cover, Cyril Rolando, official art

    Wally taught his family that it was okay to be different, to have unique tastes and preferences. This changed the way they perceived the world and themselves.

    a wolf and her cub sitting in the woods together, looking at the camera, with the sun shining through the trees, furry art, an album cover, Brothers Hildebrandt, official art

    Wally's story spread throughout the forest, inspiring other animals to embrace their uniqueness. The forest became a more accepting and diverse place, all thanks to Wally.

    a cartoon wolf with a red scarf sitting in the woods with berries on the ground and a forest background, sots art, a character portrait, Caspar Wolf, character portrait

    Wally continued to live his life as a fierce yet gentle wolf, a hunter who also loved berries. He was no longer the crying wolf; he was now a wolf who stood proudly, embracing his uniqueness.

    a wolf sitting in the middle of a forest with butterflies flying around it and a butterfly on the ground, sots art, a character portrait, Anne Stokes, official art

    His tale served as a reminder that it's okay to be different, that it's okay to have unique tastes and preferences. It's okay to be you, even if you are not like everyone else.

    a wolf standing in the middle of a forest with flowers and trees around it and a sunbeam in the background, sots art, a character portrait, Caspar Wolf, official art

    Wally's story is a tale of acceptance and love. A tale of a wolf who dared to be different and, in doing so, changed his world for the better.

    a wolf sitting in the middle of a forest with trees and leaves around it's edges and a bright yellow light shining through the trees, furry art, a painting, Chris LaBrooy, official art

    And so, Wally lived happily ever after, a proud wolf who loved his berries, embraced his uniqueness and inspired others to do the same. His story continues to echo in the forest, a testament to his courage and love for being different.