Once upon a time, in a peaceful meadow surrounded by rolling hills, there lived a flock of fluffy sheep. They spent their days grazing on sweet grass, playing hide-and-seek among the wildflowers, and resting under the shade of an ancient oak tree. The oldest sheep, a wise ewe named Clara, always reminded the younger ones to stay close and be cautious. “Not everyone who looks friendly is truly a friend,” she would say. But the lambs, full of curiosity, often giggled and rolled their eyes. That is, until one autumn afternoon when something strange happened.

A newcomer arrived at the meadow—a sheep with unusually thick wool and a gruff voice. It wandered near the flock but kept to itself, grazing quietly at the edge of the field. The lambs whispered excitedly. “Look! A new friend!” they bleated. But Clara narrowed her eyes. Something felt… off. The stranger’s paws seemed too large, its eyes too sharp. Yet before she could warn the others, the lambs bounded over to greet the newcomer.

“Hello! What’s your name?” asked Lily, the boldest lamb.
The stranger coughed. “I’m… uh… Shaun. Just moved here.”
“You sound funny,” giggled a little lamb named Milo.
“Allergies,” Shaun muttered, pulling his woolen disguise tighter. (For this was no sheep—it was a wolf! He’d stolen a fleece from a clothesline and planned to trick the flock.)

Days passed, and “Shaun” stayed close to the lambs. He laughed too loudly at their games and licked his lips when Clara wasn’t looking. But clever Lily noticed odd things. Shaun never took off his wool, even when the sun blazed. He refused to nibble thyme with the others, claiming he preferred “plain grass.” Worst of all, his shadow at dusk didn’t look like a sheep’s at all—it was long and lean, with pointed ears.

One evening, as the flock settled to sleep, Lily overheard Shaun whispering to himself. “Tonight’s the night… fattest lamb first.” Her heart raced. She tiptoed to Clara and shared her suspicions. The wise old ewe nodded. “Trust your instincts, little one. Let’s set a trap.”

Under the moon’s glow, Clara and Lily gathered the flock. They swapped places with scarecrows dressed in wool and hid behind rocks. When Shaun crept into the center of the meadow, he found only stuffed lambs. Confused, he growled and tore off his disguise—revealing sharp teeth and glowing eyes!

“Now!” bleated Clara. The sheep stampeded forward, bells around their necks clanging loudly. Startled, the wolf tripped over his stolen fleece and tumbled into a thorny bush! Howling, he fled into the forest, vowing never to return.

From that day on, the lambs never doubted Clara’s advice. Lily became the flock’s hero, and the meadow stayed peaceful… though the sheep did add a new rule: No one joins the flock without a proper introduction—and a thyme-tasting test!

The End.

Moral of the story: Appearances can be deceiving, but kindness and cleverness will always shine brighter. Always listen to your heart when something feels wrong, and never be afraid to speak up—even if others don’t believe you at first. Sweet dreams, little ones! ✨