The Sheep, the Lamb, the Wolf and the Hare

The Sheep, the Lamb, the Wolf and the Hare

Once, in a low Tibetan valley, a Sheep lived with her Lamb. Every year, at the beginning of summer, they left the valley and travelled far north to a high mountain plateau. Thick, fresh grass grew there, and sheep and goats grazed on the wide pastures all summer long.

One spring, Sheep prepared for the journey again.

She walked gravely along the path, while Lamb ran beside her, skipped about, and sometimes fell a few steps behind to smell a flower.

Suddenly, around a bend in the path, a great Wolf appeared before them.

“Good morning, Aunt Sheep,” he said. “Where are you going?”

Sheep stopped. She was afraid, but she tried to speak calmly.

“We are going to the northern plateau, Uncle Wolf. There is plenty of grass there. We want to spend the summer there.”

The Wolf licked his lips.

“And I am very hungry. Perhaps your journey will end right here.”

Lamb pressed close to Mother.

Sheep thought quickly.

“Listen, Wolf. We are thin after the long winter. What use are we to you now? Let us go to the pasture. By autumn we will have eaten well, grown strong, and returned by this same road.”

The Wolf thought about it. Waiting seemed useful to him.

“Very well,” he said. “I will let you go. But in autumn I will wait in this very place.”

And he ran off on his own road.

Sheep and Lamb continued their journey. They reached the green plateau and spent the whole summer there. Lamb grew taller, stronger, and swifter. The days passed among grass, wind, and wide sky, and the meeting with Wolf was almost forgotten.

But when autumn drew near and it was time to go home, Sheep remembered.

The closer they came to the meeting place, the more slowly she walked.

“Mother, why are you so sad?” asked Lamb.

“Because the Wolf is waiting ahead of us,” Sheep answered quietly.

Just then Hare came hopping along the path toward them.

“Good day, Sister Sheep!” he said. “What a lovely Lamb you have. But why do you look as if a whole storm cloud is hanging over you?”

Sheep told him everything: the meeting in spring, the promise, and the Wolf who was surely waiting on the road.

When she had finished, Hare twitched his ears.

“Is that all the trouble?” he said. “Do not worry. Sometimes the one who seems strongest is most afraid of what he does not understand.”

“But what can we do?” asked Sheep.

“We will put on a little play,” said Hare with a smile.

He put on his best woollen clothes, fastened a long earring to his left ear, and set a festive hat on his head. Then he placed a small saddle on Sheep’s back. On Lamb he tied two little bundles, as if the young one were carrying important things for a long journey.

Hare took a large sheet of paper, tucked a quill behind his ear, and solemnly climbed onto Sheep’s back.

“Now walk calmly,” he instructed them. “And whatever happens, do not show fear.”

So they went on: Sheep in front with Hare on her back, and Lamb behind with the two bundles.

Soon they saw Wolf. He was already waiting on the path.

Hare sat up straight and called sternly, “You there! Who are you, and why are you standing in the middle of the road?”

Wolf was surprised. He had expected a frightened Sheep. Instead, a strangely dressed Hare sat before him with paper and a quill.

“I am Wolf,” he answered. “I have an agreement with this Sheep.”

“An agreement?” Hare repeated in a tone as if it were the least important thing in the world. “I am Lomden the Hare. I have been sent on a very important errand to India. Along the way, I must make a list of the ten most fearsome wolves, who will be taken far from here for a special service.”

He unrolled the sheet of paper.

“What luck that the first one appeared so quickly!”

Wolf became alert.

“What sort of list is that?”

“An official one,” said Hare seriously, dipping his imaginary quill into imaginary ink. “Name, place of residence, special features. Yes, we shall begin with number one.”

And he slowly drew a large number one on the paper.

Wolf looked at the number. Then at Hare’s quill. Then at the bundles Lamb was carrying. Then back at the paper.

Suddenly, the little procession looked very much like an important embassy.

“You know,” Wolf muttered, taking a step back, “I am terribly busy today.”

“That is all right,” said Hare. “We can wait.”

“No, no. There is no need!” said Wolf quickly.

He stepped back two more paces, turned around, and raced away as fast as he could. In a moment, only a tiny speck remained on the distant path.

Lamb laughed.

“He ran away!”

Sheep gave a great sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Hare. You saved us without a fight and without strength.”

Hare jumped down from the saddle, took off his hat, and tucked away the paper.

“Remember,” he said, “a clever mind sometimes works faster than the strongest paws. And it is better not to make frightening promises merely because someone stronger has made you afraid.”

Sheep, Lamb, and Hare said goodbye. Sheep and Lamb continued peacefully on their way home, while Wolf for a long time afterward looked over his shoulder whenever he saw anyone carrying paper and a quill.

May this story leave a little light in your heart ✨