A wolf was drinking from a spring on a hillside, his eyes scanning the vicinity for potential prey. He spotted a lamb drinking from the same spring a little lower down the hill.

The lamb, unaware of the wolf's presence, was drinking the water peacefully. The wolf decided to seize the opportunity to make the lamb his meal, but needed an excuse.

The wolf accused the lamb of muddying the water he was drinking. The lamb, frightened but clever, pointed out that the water flowed downhill from the wolf to her, making it impossible for her to muddle it.

The wolf, not easily deterred, then accused the lamb of calling him names a year ago. But the lamb calmly replied that she was only six months old, so it couldn't have been her.

The wolf, growing impatient, snarled at the lamb, claiming that if it wasn't her, it must have been her father. The lamb, now terrified, had no more arguments to offer.

Despite her clever responses and efforts to reason with the wolf, the lamb couldn't change the wolf's mind. With a swift move, the wolf pounced on the lamb.

The wolf devoured the lamb, his hunger satiated. He looked around, satisfied with his cunning plan and the meal it provided. The hillside returned to its serene state, minus one innocent lamb.

Before she was completely gone, the lamb managed to gasp out a final sentence. 'Any excuse will serve a tyrant.' These words echoed on the hillside, a poignant reminder of the encounter.

The wolf, having finished his meal, moved on, leaving behind the memory of the lamb and her wise words. The hillside returned to its peaceful state, but the lesson of the encounter remained.

As the day ended, the sun set on the hillside, casting long shadows and a melancholic hue. The scene was tranquil yet somber, a testament to the harsh realities of life.

The story of the wolf and the lamb spread among the inhabitants of the hillside. The animals learned a valuable lesson about the cunning of predators and the wisdom sometimes found in innocence.

The tale serves as a stark reminder that excuses can be twisted by the powerful to serve their needs. The hillside, forever marked by the story of the wolf and the lamb, carries on with its tranquil existence.