A/N: Hello again everybody! Welcome to another chapter of Nothing but a Monster. By the way, there are only five more chapters left. I decided that this story will end on chapter 35, so, as always; I will temporarily be stopping A Silver Curse and Stolen to finish this one quicker. I will update those once more each, saying that they will temporarily stop for a while.

Thanks to Silver's Fangs, catgirl2900, AquaJinx, and Gingersplash and Feathermist for following and adding this story as a favorite.

(No Reviews, meh oh well)

ON WITH THE CHAPTER

…

Snow's POV

I walked into the nursery with my head turned towards the camp entrance. Leopardpaw and Mosspaw were positioned as guards in front of the nursery, as if the owl would come back. I let out a low growl and began pacing in front of my nest. Bluestorm sat with Whiteheart; they both had their heads hung and tails curled protectively around their remaining kits. I shuffled my weight between my paws restlessly and continued staring outside. Palestone was sitting near Duskcloud; both of their kits were looking around with wide, terrified eyes. They were murmuring to each other and I froze when Duskcloud looked up at me.

"Your mate will be fine, he is more than capable of taking care of himself," Duskcloud said and lowered her voice slightly, "but your friend needs you now." I flicked my ear in slight annoyance before sighing. She was right. I turned around again and padded up to Whiteheart. I hesitated before sitting down beside her. She turned her head to me and cried into my shoulder. "Is Wolfkit going to be okay?" Snowkit asked, her light blue eyes wide with curiosity.

"Fang is going after him," I murmured, trying to comfort both her and Whiteheart. Bluestorm snorted slightly. "Yah, that monster is going after him," my eyes narrowed and I opened my mouth to snap at him, but I was surprised when Whiteheart whipped around and snarled at him. "That 'monster' is our only hope right now, at least he had the decency to chase after our kit," she snapped, her tears still falling.

Bluestorm sat in stunned silence before clearing his throat and standing up. "I'll go on a patrol, and I won't stop searching until I find him," my brother murmured softly, giving a comforting lick to Whiteheart's cheek before nuzzling his two remaining kits and padding off. I looked once more at the den entrance before turning back to Whiteheart.

"If I wasn't forced to be in here, I would've gone looking the second it happened," I said, earning a small chuckle from my friend. She was clearly trying hard not to cry anymore, since Snowkit and Mistkit were looking up at her with worried expressions. "Go to sleep," I murmured to all three of them, "I will wake you up once something happens." Whiteheart sniffed before lying down, curling protectively around the two kits and grooming their fur.

I stood up and padded over to the den entrance, being stopped by the two apprentices. "You can't go outside right now," Leopardpaw spoke and glanced behind her shoulder. "I will sit right beside you and won't leave without your permission," I said and lashed my tail impatiently. They glanced at each other before looking back at me. Mosspaw was the first to step to the side, sitting back down after. I stepped outside and sat beside the two apprentices, looking towards the entrance to camp.

I could only hope that both Fang and Wolfkit return unharmed.

…

Fang's POV

I ignored my short breaths as I arrived in the Owl Tree Clearing. Wolfkit's wailing lowered to soft, cracking cries. I hesitated by the tree before shaking away my fear and leaping up, climbing up quickly. My claws made scratch marks all the way up. I heard the rapid flapping of the owl's wings as it was trying to land. Only a couple more branches above. I leapt to the branch above and snarled loudly. The owl lowered its yellow gaze towards me, letting out a screech. I hissed angrily in response and leapt up the final branch, my claws coming in contact with a paw full of feathers. It let go of Wolfkit when I came in contact with it. I slashed my claws wildly at it, my claws hitting its head and side.

It flapped its wings at me, hitting me roughly and knocking me slightly off balance. I snarled again and ran at it. The owl clearly didn't want to get severely injured; it flew away when I charged at it. It let out an angry screech before flying off in a direction opposite of camp. I let out a sigh before crouching over the branch and looking down. My head spun from the height, but I narrowed my eyes and saw Wolfkit clinging to a branch far below. He let out terrified mews and looked up at me with a hopeful look.

I crouched lower and began descending down the tree, my paws barely touching the surfaces of the bark. "I'm coming Wolfkit," I said shakily, trying to only look at him instead of the ground far below him. I didn't even notice how high up I was. My fear of heights kept resurfacing no matter how much I pushed it down or tried to ignore it. I finally arrived on the branch where the small kit was barely holding on. I carefully gripped his scruff and flinched slightly at the taste of blood. He let out a pain-filled sound but otherwise stayed quiet. I jumped down a couple more branches before placing him in a hole on the side of the tree.

I couldn't fit in the hole as well, so I sat outside on the branch. Wolfkit was shaking violently out of fear and his breathing was shaky and ragged. I sighed softly and reached out to him, licking his fur the opposite way. I glanced at his wounds and sniffed him slightly to see if there was anything else wrong. "I will be right back; I'm going to find some herbs to heal your wounds alright?" I said softly in order to comfort him. He gave a shaky nod and stared at me as I jumped down the last couple of branches. It felt like I was finally able to breathe again once I was off the tree. I walked around the side of the tree to the small den at the roots of the tree.

I pushed my way in and grunted slightly before shaking out my pelt. I kept a small supply of herbs scattered around the territory in marked trees or burrows. I grabbed a few cobwebs and poppy seeds before padding back outside. I took a quick look around before climbing back up, slower than I had before. It was already night by the time I arrived back at the hole. I sat on the branch and dug my claws in slightly before placing the poppy seed inside with him.

Wolfkit simply looked at the small seed, his body still shaking. "Hey," I murmured and lowered my head so I could be eye level with him, "I know you're scared, but you have to calm down." He blinked at me and looked down at his paws. "B-but I can't," he stuttered and looked back up with tears in his eyes.

"Listen," I sighed and gave a reassuring smile, "you're safe now. That owl will think twice before coming back and trying to steal you again. But I need you to be brave, not just for yourself but for your mother as well when we get back. You need to be the bravest you've ever been. Could you do that for me?" He nodded along to my words and broke into a small smile. I gave a single nod and nosed the poppy seed closer to him.

"Now eat that and lay down so I could patch up your wounds," I said and showed him the cobwebs for emphasis. Wolfkit quickly swallowed the small seed and lay down on his stomach next to the hole. I carefully placed the cobwebs around his neck, putting most of it on his scruff. There weren't any other wounds on him, but there would've been if I didn't arrive on time.

"C-can we get down from the tree and go into the bushes? I don't want to be out in the open like this," Wolfkit asked and cleared his throat, swaying his small tail. I nodded and carefully picked him up. I swayed slightly when I stood up on the branch and slowly began climbing down. I let out a small breath when I arrived at the bottom, quickly rushing to the undergrowth of the forest. I placed Wolfkit down and his eyes were half-lidded, but he still looked around in interest.

"Let's go find a den to spend the night in, I am sure you are as tired as I am," I chuckled and scented the air, padding through the bushes and constantly looking to my side where Wolfkit trudged beside me. While I stepped over uprooted tree roots, he had to climb over them. He was out of breath when we walked a couple of fox-lengths from the Owl Tree Clearing.

I crouched beside him and smiled slightly. "Climb on and hold on tight," I said and I heard him purr roughly before climbing onto my back. I stood up and slowly began walking again, keeping my ears perked and continuously scenting the air. I finally found an abandoned fox den not far from the clearing. I crouched down so he could climb off. I was confused when he didn't move. I glanced behind my shoulder as best as I could and smiled when I saw him fast asleep. I chuckled and crouched into the den, being careful not to squish him against the top of it.

I lay on my stomach and rested my head on my paws, glancing up at him again. His colored-mixed fur was fluffed out against the cold, and his flanks rose and fell evenly. I found myself purring softly. Was this how I would feel when my own kits are born? Wanting nothing more than to see them happy and safe. I fell asleep soon after with my purr still rumbling in my throat.

…

I woke up to the muffled sound of birds chirping outside the den. I lifted my head up slowly and yawned. "You're awake, finally," I heard Wolfkit and I sat up, still yawning. The small kit stood beside me, his head raised and ears perked up. I nudged him slightly, causing him to stumble. "Quiet, I couldn't sleep because of your snoring like a badger," I joked and laughed when he faked a pout.

We sat in comfortable silence for a while before I shook out my pelt and stood up as best as I could in the den. "Come on, it's time for you to go home," I said and began padding outside. "You mean it's time for us to go home," I heard him squeak and I flicked my ears slightly. I frowned but turned my head so he wouldn't see it. I already told Duskcloud that I didn't consider that place home, but I couldn't say that to Wolfkit.

Once outside, I turned to him and smiled. "Remember what I said about being brave when you're most frightened," I said and he nodded. He puffed out his tiny chest and raised his head higher, trying to put on a serious face. I purred quietly and crouched down again so he could climb onto my back. I began padding in the direction of the camp, answering Wolfkit's questions along the way.

"What is your favorite prey?" he asked from his spot as I ducked lower under a low-hanging branch. "Hmm, I would have to say squirrel," I answered and glanced around the area, scenting the air to make sure I was still going in the right direction. "When is your favorite time of day?" he asked and I felt him sway his tail. I flicked my ear and raised my head slightly.

"Dusk, when the sun is beginning to set," I said and smiled slightly. When I was still a kit, we would all eat prey at that time together, doing nothing but talking and laughing. "I like it when it's midnight, the moon and stars are so pretty to watch," he gave a small purr in response and he shifted around, his grip tightening slightly.

"Do you have any fears?" Wolfkit asked as he laid his cheek against my shoulders. I nodded slightly and he gasped in surprise. "I have a lot of fears: heights, drowning, and being alone are just a couple of them," I said matter-of-factly and lashed my tail as I leapt onto a stone. "I didn't think someone like you would have any fears," Wolfkit said in slight awe. I shook my head slightly.

"Nobody is invincible," I murmured, "everyone has strengths and everyone has weaknesses, whether small or big it doesn't matter." I scented the air once more, the scent of the clan becoming stronger with each step I took. The kit stayed quiet after that, most likely looking at his surroundings once more. When I saw the thorn barrier, he let out a small gasp.

"We're here," he said joyfully, jumping off my back. Instead of running ahead of me, he stayed at my side. I shrugged it off and continued the rest of the way. "You go first," he said and stood off to the side. I chuckled slightly and crouched down, going through the tunnel. It opened up into the clearing, and those awake looked at me with wide eyes. "Fang's back!" Echopaw yowled from one of the dens. All the apprentices ran out of the den. Well, except Stonepaw, who stayed behind and glared at me with his teeth bared.

The kits and queens padded out of the nursery, and I smiled when Snow rushed over to me. "Look who I found wondering the forest," I stepped aside and Wolfkit bounded forward. Bluestorm gaped at me before shaking his head. "Whiteheart, he's back," I heard him say before he ran over to us.

Wolfkit glanced at me before smiling and running forward, practically being ran over by Bluestorm. Snow's brother slowed down and began licking his kit frantically, murmuring something to him. The white furred she-cat with a dark grey chest ran out of the nursery, letting out a joyful yowl and sprinting towards Bluestorm and Wolfkit. Their other two kits laughed in glee and bounded over as well, breaking away from the other kits.

I purred quietly and nuzzled Snow, breathing in her scent. "I'm glad you're both okay," she said and licked my ear before nuzzling me. My purr grew louder and I ignored the stares from the warriors. I glanced up and saw Bluestorm standing in front of us. "Thank you Fang," he said and gave me a smile, pulling his son closer to him. Wolfkit's smile was wide across his muzzle, all fear from being taken by the owl gone.

"We all thank you," I heard Toadstar and I looked up to see him on a tree branch, "thanks to you, Wolfkit returned home safely." I nodded awkwardly and smiled shyly when the clan began chanting my name in joy instead of fear. The apprentices, except Stonepaw, were probably the loudest though. I turned my head and nuzzled Snow again, hearing her purr in response.

Maybe Wolfkit and Duskcloud are right. This could be my home. I smiled at the thought as everyone began going to their regular duties of patrols. I decided to go into the nursery with all the kits and queens, taking a seat next to Snow. The medicine cats checked up on Wolfkit and were surprised to see his wound healing properly.

"You're full of surprises aren't you?" Fogkit joked and smiled at me. All the kits were playing with Wolfkit now, and they even asked me to join in their games. I curled around Snow when the kits were finally settled down to take a nap. Bluestorm's mate, her name was Whiteheart, curled her tail around her kits, resting her head next to them.

Snow had dozed off quickly, her tail curled around mine. I sighed softly and froze when I noticed that Duskcloud was looking at us. "That was very brave, what you did," she murmured quietly, trying not to wake anybody else up. I flicked my ears and looked away from her. "You can't ignore me forever Fang," she sighed softly and I flattened my ears in response. She was right, though I will never admit that.

"I know you're still angry at me, but it was a good thing I did what I did. Look, we're going to have to work together if we want to stop him from taking over the clans," Duskcloud snapped and I looked at her again.

"I know that," I finally murmured, "but I can't get over the fact that you are the reason our mother is dead, I don't care about Shard being dead, just mom." She frowned and a pained expression entered her eyes. "I know," she mumbled, "that's the only thing I regret on doing." I stared at her yellow eyes and she stared back at me.

"I forgive you," I murmured quietly and rested my head against Snow's shoulder, "but just know it's going to take a while to forget about it." I heard her purring slightly and I smiled to myself before closing my eyes.

Whether I like it or not, this is my home now. And I would have to do whatever it takes to protect it from being destroyed by Shard.

…

A/N: This one is a little shorter, but not by much. What did you think? Still sad that it is almost over, but everything has to come to an end at some point. Thanks for reading and I hoped you enjoyed. Also, you could still submit kit names for Snow and Fang's kits.

QOTD: Would you have forgiven Duskcloud? If you don't know what she did, she basically led the clan cats to her father so they could kill him, which in turn, also ended up killing her mother.

If you have time: it would mean a lot to me if you can check out my other stories as well.

Stolen: s/10699119/1/Stolen

A Silver curse: s/11181428/1/A-Silver-Curse

Please review, favorite and/or follow.

Thank you and peace out.

~Wolfcreations16

#TheAlpha