Why Wolves Are Afraid of the Bell

The fox served the local constable diligently, though it's unclear exactly how or in what capacity—perhaps she supplied him with chickens for dinner or something else.

One day, the constable said to the fox:
"Ask me for anything you want in return for your service. Whatever you ask for, I'll give it to you!"

The fox thought and thought about what to ask for, and finally decided.
"Give me," she said, "your bell, so that whenever I pass by, everyone will fear me as they fear you, the constable himself."

The constable agreed. He gave her his bell and said:
"Now, make sure you don't lose it! If you lose it or give it to someone, I'll skin you alive!"
The fox swore she wouldn't give it to anyone or lose it, and off she went to roam the world. Whenever anyone heard the bell, they would get scared and give the fox whatever she asked for.

The wolf found out that the fox had gotten the constable's bell and that everyone feared her and gave her whatever she wanted.
So he went to the fox and asked to borrow the bell, even if just for an hour. The fox didn't want to give it to him, but the wolf begged and begged.

"Alright, fine, my friend," the fox finally agreed. "Here, take it. But if you lose it, you'll regret it. The constable will skin us both for this bell!"

The wolf took the bell and ran off to get something for himself. He ran to the field where the shepherds were.
"The constable sent me," he said, "to demand that you give him your best ram. If you don't, he'll come here himself and throw you in the cold cell!"

The shepherds didn't believe him. They set their dogs on him, beat him, and took the bell away. The bell was lost.
The wolf cried and went back to the fox to tell her what had happened.

The fox cried too, but what could they do? The constable's bell was gone, and they could only mourn its loss.

From that day on, whenever the wolf heard a bell, he thought it was the constable coming to look for him. And, terrified out of his wits, he would run wherever his eyes took him.

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• How Vasil Defeated the Serpent
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