The Shepherd and the Wild Sheep

Once upon a time, there lived a shepherd who took great care of his flock. Each night, he diligently counted and gathered his sheep, ensuring that not a single one was overlooked. One fateful night, he noticed that some wild sheep had mingled with his herd. He saw an opportunity to make them part of his flock.

That night, a heavy snowfall blanketed the land. Come morning, the shepherd found himself unable to take his sheep out of the lodge. Instead, he had to provide them with food inside. He rationed a small portion of wheat for his own sheep but was more generous with the wild sheep, hoping the extra nourishment would persuade them to stay.

The snow persisted for several days, causing the shepherd's sheep to eat sparingly, while the wild sheep thrived on their ample share of food. 

Finally, when the snow melted, the sheep were able to venture outside. Upon opening the door of his hut, the wild sheep darted away.

"Wait! Is this how you repay me? After I treated you so kindly, why are you running away?" the shepherd inquired with a tone filled with bitterness.

The wild sheep halted and turned to face the shepherd.

"We are leaving because you provided us with better care than your own sheep," one of the wild sheep responded. "Your deceptive plan was evident to us. While you treated us kindly yesterday, who's to say you won't treat us differently tomorrow? If more wild sheep were to join your herd, you might regard us as inferior."

As the wild sheep departed, the shepherd came to realize his wrongdoing. He acknowledged that this awkward situation was entirely his fault. He had failed as a caretaker and had been a false friend to the wild sheep, neglecting his own herd in the process.