Okay, I know I haven't updated in an eternity, but here's chapter 16. Hopefully, chapter 17 will be completed soon, possibly sometime in the next week. Unfortunately, I was the mouse-brain who decided to write 5 different warrior fanfics at once, so I've been slow in updating all of my work. Anyway, thanks for reading and don't forget to review!

Chapter 16: Veiled Decision

Fawnfur opened her eyes. She was standing in the middle of ThunderClan's camp, the familiar yellow rock walls rising up over her head. She purred in happiness. She was home! Glancing around, Fawnfur noticed that the camp was empty, save for five little kits running around at her paws. Fawnfur felt a warm bubble rising inside her as she looked at the kits, and it took her a split-second longer to realize they were hers.

Fawnfur bent down to lick their little heads and the kits looked up at her, their tails swishing excitedly. As their faces turned towards her, Fawnfur gasped and scrambled backwards, her head reeling. The five kits had no faces. Instead of eyes and noses they had blank spaces, empty and dark. A shiver passed through Fawnfur's body.

As if the kits had felt Fawnfur's repulsion, they began to mew loudly, their high-pitched voices crying out in terror. Before Fawnfur could quiet them, each kit disappeared, leaving behind nothing but several pawprints on the dusty camp floor.

"No, I'm sorry, come back!" Fawnfur screamed, scratching at the ground desperately, her belly suddenly jerking in pain.

A warm light glowed from above her and Fawnfur lifted her head up, seeking the glow's source. The light landed next to her and Fawnfur was unsurprised to see Firestar's now-familiar green eyes staring out at her from underneath a screen of stars; she was dreaming again.

"Beware, Fawnfur," Firestar said, his voice deep and commanding, "this is what will happen if you do not carry out your plan."

"Firestar, am I doing the right thing?" Fawnfur asked pleadingly, her eyes wide and worried, needing to seek the council of the wise leader.

Firestar's pelt was fading again and his shining light was beginning to leave the camp but he turned to Fawnfur once more and meowed, "you are doing what is right for every cat. But be careful. One wrong move and you could slip over the edge. May your wits and bravery stay with you."

Then the ginger tom vanished completely. The ThunderClan camp slid out of focus as Fawnfur felt a gentle prodding waking her. The remnants of her dream flew away as Fawnfur cracked open her eyes, her fur hot with fear from the vision of the tiny kits without faces.

"Hey, Fawnfur, are you okay?" Spidersilk's soft voice asked, "You were mewing in your sleep."

Fawnfur laboriously rose to her paws, her back aching from the weight of her belly. She turned her face towards Spidersilk and pressed it against his tangled black fur. In an instant, she decided not to tell him about her ominous dream.

"I'm fine, it was nothing," she murmured, "where's Icy?"

"I'm right here," came Icy's voice from behind Spidersilk.

Fawnfur peered around her mate to see Icy's white fur shining softly in the dim, pale morning light. She stepped over to her mother and licked her head, checking the wounds she'd gotten from Black. The scratches that ran down Icy's back and shoulders seemed to healing well. Fawnfur was sure her mother would be fine after a few days of rest.

"Do we get food today?" Fawnfur asked Icy, settling down besides her.

It had been three sunsets since Black had imprisoned the three cats in the damp cave near the mouth of the waterfall. The three cats hadn't eaten a meal since their second day at the Tribe.

Fawnfur had reluctantly gotten used to the faint roaring of water and the scent of mildew that surrounded the cave. The light in their cave was dim and dull; the only way the three cats could tell that whether it was night or day was by the amount of activity from the other Tribe members.

Fawnfur had noticed groups of cats going in and out of the waterfall, coming back with prey gripped tightly in their jaws. Fawnfur hadn't seen Black since the first night but Tooth and Rip seemed to be the three cats' personal guards.

"I don't know," Icy admitted, "Black doesn't like to feed his prisoners too much. You can guess why."

Fawnfur glanced down at her swollen belly, gurgling in hunger. She sighed. Her dream had been a sign, she was sure of it. It was time to set her plan into action. More than anything else, she needed to feed her unborn kits.

"Alright," Fawnfur said, lifting herself to her paws and shaking her white and tan fur free from the cave's dust, "it's time."

"Right now?" Spidersilk squeaked, his voice high with apprehension.

"Yes," Fawnfur insisted, "right now. Icy, do you know where Black is?"

"No," the white she-cat answered, "but I'm sure Rip and Tooth do."

"Alright. I'll ask them."

"Fawnfur," Icy murmured, close to her daughter's pelt, "are you sure this is what you want to do?"

Fawnfur looked at her mother; her white snarled fur, her bruised paws, the long scars down her pelt from Black, the emptiness in her eyes.

"Yes. This is what I want to do," Fawnfur said firmly, swiping her tongue over Icy's ears.

"Alright then," Icy said, glancing at Spidersilk, "you should go now."

Fawnfur nodded and nuzzled first her mother, and then her mate, taking comfort in their warmth and concern. Firestar's warning had made her even more determined to save the Tribe and her family.

"Go with StarClan, Fawnfur," Spidersilk whispered in her ear, "and if anything happens, if you need my help at all, just call for me. I'd fight through a million badgers to be with you."

"I know," Fawnfur returned softly, "I'll be okay. I love you."

"I love you too."

Fawnfur gave her mate one last look, and then she trotted to the wide, rock-encircled entrance of the cave they were imprisoned in. She peered out into the shadowy light and caught sight of Rip and Tooth, sitting side-by-side, eating a shrew. Fawnfur cleared her throat softly and stared expectantly at the two toms.

Tooth whipped around, his claws already unsheathed, his eyes glittering madly in the dark. Rip turned around more slowly, taking his time, his brown tabby pelt caked with dry mud.

"What do you want?" spat Tooth, glaring at Fawnfur, who stared baldly back at him, meeting his gaze

"I need to speak to Black," Fawnfur said calmly.

"I don't think so kitty," Rip snorted, sparking a flame of fury within Fawnfur's breast.

"Listen you flea-bag," she snarled, stepping forward so her nose was barely touching Rip's, "let's get one thing straight: my name is NOT kitty, and you are NOT in charge of me, or this Tribe. Now take me to Black."

Rip took a step back, surprise clouding his eyes. Tooth, however, simply let out a short barking laugh, his dark gray pelt blending in with the surrounding rocks.

"I don't think you forest cats understand the meaning of authority," he growled, thrusting his face forward into Fawnfur's.

"Oh I understand authority. I just don't respect it. At least not here," Fawnfur replied swiftly, her hackles rising.

Behind her, Fawnfur heard Icy sigh in desperation. Fawnfur knew she was getting carried away, taking out her anger on these two toms. She needed to save her energy for Black.

"Would you please just take me to see him?" Fawnfur said, more civilly this time, "it's very important."

Rip looked skeptical but Tooth shook his head violently, his tail lashing around in the air. "Black is a very busy cat. Prisoners aren't allowed to walk right in and see him."

"Do you really think I'm a danger to him?" Fawnfur spat, "I'm one tired, hungry, she-cat carrying kits. I'm not about to attack anyone."

Rip's jaw dropped open and even Tooth looked amazed. "You're pregnant?" he asked carefully, keeping his voice low.

"Yes," Fawnfur stated firmly, holding her breath. She hoped this would work.

"I'm going to take her to Black," Rip said, scrambling to his paws with uncanny speed.

"No, wait," Tooth said, his voice riddled with interest, "I've got a better idea."

"What?!" both Rip and Fawnfur exclaimed at the same time.

"Let's keep her here," Tooth said excitedly, turning to Rip, "when she gives birth, we'll take credit. We'll say we found the kits outside. We'll be heroes! Think of how Black will reward us!"

Rip looked disgusted. Fawnfur glanced at the brown tabby's face, suddenly attentive.

"No way," Rip replied, "we'd get in so much trouble with Black. Plus, we don't know how to deliver kits! She'd probably end up dead."

"So what? Why do you care about her?" Tooth spat, his attention fully on Rip now.

Fawnfur gazed at the two toms, watching their exchange carefully, a seed of an idea beginning to sprout in her mind.

"It's just not a good idea," Rip muttered.

"What if your precious leader found out you were holding out on him?" Fawnfur spoke up, "I don't think he'd be too happy. You better take me to him right now."

Rip looked even more nervous. "She's right," he mewed, "I'm taking her to Black now. You stay here and guard the other two."

Tooth hissed at his companion but didn't say anything else. Rip flicked his tail at Fawnfur, his eyes traveling down to her full belly, bulging with kits. Fawnfur kept her eyes innocently wide. The first part of her plan had been completed. Her insides glowed with confidence.

She glanced back once more, her whiskers twitching in a goodbye to Spidersilk and Icy, who were sitting together, watching Fawnfur pad out of the cave. Both their eyes were filled with sadness and worry. Fawnfur sent them a warm look and then faced forward, trotting after Rip's tabby pelt.

Rip kept turning around, looking back to make sure Fawnfur was following him as he led her out into a wide, smooth-stoned oval clearing.

"Hurry up," he said quietly, "Black will be pleased to hear this."