One night, a wolf caught a lamb outside the fence and, before the dog could notice, carried it off into the forest. The lamb showed no resistance. The wolf thought to himself that the little one must be dead. But when he placed the lamb upon a rock in his den, he saw the lamb looking at him. The wolf lingered, then stepped back a little to give the child space. The lamb shook itself slightly and rubbed its neck with its tiny hoof. The wolf tilted his head and asked:

— “Why aren’t you afraid…?” • “Should I be?” — “I’m a wolf…” • “I can see that.” — “You should be afraid.” • “Why?” — “Are you a fool, or just pretending to be one?” • “Maybe both.” — “Didn’t your mother teach you to fear wolves?” • “I don’t have a mother.” — “Neither do I.” • “How did your mother die?” — “The shepherd’s father killed her.” • “The same one killed mine too.” — “…I’m going to kill you as well, I’m starving.” • “Do you have water?” — “Water?” • “Before they kill any of us, they give us water first.” — “Why…?” • “I don’t know, maybe they feel sorry for us.” — “I still can’t tell if you’re stupid, or just pretending.” • “Told you, both.” — “Why are you so calm…?” • “Because you’re a wolf.” — … • “The shepherd pets us, plays the flute for us, gives us food and water, and then he slaughters us. The dog protects us in cold and heat, guards us so you or thieves can’t touch us… but when the shepherd drags us to the ground for slaughter, the dog does nothing. He just watches… You at least are clear about who you are. There’s no pretense in what you do.”

The wolf, staring at the lamb, opened his jaws and lunged at the child’s throat. In a fraction of a second, he tore away the rope of the little bell around the lamb’s neck. Then he stepped back again, gazing at the lamb. • “Why are you alone?” — “My pack left. Only I remained.” • “Why?” — “Because with one blind eye, I can’t hunt well.” • “Don’t you love them?” — “Sometimes, to prove your love for something, you have to let it go.” • “That’s sad.” — “That’s life.” • “One of your eyes is like the moon.” — “A gift from a shotgun’s pellet.” • “Does it hurt?” — “No.” • “Why don’t you eat me?” — “I think… just like your shepherd, I’m not so sure of myself.” • “But you’ll stay hungry.” — “There’ll be a day.” • “Shall I find you berries?” — “Why?” • “Because we’re going to be a flock.” — “A wolf and a lamb?” • “Yes.” — “That’s ridiculous.” • “More ridiculous than abandoning what you love?” — “More ridiculous than showing mercy to a lamb.” • “Wolf.” — “Yes?” • “I’m cold.”

(you can be wolf or the lamb, choose~)