One chilly evening, a wolf, whose ribs you could almost count, was wandering through the woods. His tummy rumbled like distant thunder. He was so hungry! He sniffed the air, hoping for a tiny mouse or a forgotten berry.

Suddenly, he saw a dog! This dog wasn't skinny like him. Oh no! This dog was plump and shiny. His fur gleamed in the moonlight, and he trotted along with a happy bounce in his step.

"Wow!" said the wolf, his eyes wide. "You look amazing! So round and happy. How do you do it? I'm always searching for my next meal."

The dog smiled. "Oh, it's quite easy, really," he said. "I live with a kind family. They give me yummy food – scraps from their table, sometimes even special dog treats! I have a warm bed inside the house, especially when it's cold like tonight."

The wolf licked his lips. "A warm bed? Yummy food every day? That sounds like a dream! What do you have to do for all this?"

"Not much," the dog replied, wagging his tail. "I wag my tail when they come home. I let the children pet me. I bark if strangers come near the house. It's a pretty good deal."

The wolf thought about it. No more cold nights, no more empty belly. "Maybe I could do that too!" he said excitedly. "It sounds wonderful!"

As they walked a little, the wolf noticed something. "What's that mark on your neck?" he asked. "It looks a bit rubbed raw."

The dog chuckled. "Oh, that? That's just where my collar goes. Sometimes they tie me up with a chain, you know, so I don't wander off or get into trouble."

The wolf stopped. His ears drooped. "Tied up?" he repeated slowly. "You mean you can't run wherever you want, whenever you want?"

"Well, not always," said the dog. "But I get so much good food and a warm bed!"

The wolf looked at the plump dog, then at the wide, open forest stretching out under the stars. He thought about yummy food and a warm bed. But then he thought about being tied up, unable to chase the moonbeams or explore new paths.

He shook his head. "Thank you," said the wolf, "but no thank you. Your life sounds comfortable, but I like to run free. Goodbye!"

And with that, the skinny wolf turned and disappeared back into the dark, free woods. He might be hungry sometimes, but he could go wherever his paws wanted to take him.

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