Thrushstar led his small band of warriors to the edge of the New Order's camp, hidden by the moonless night. In the darkness, Thrushstar could barely make out a large den in the center of the clearing. That had to be Abyss' den. If they could get in without being seen, they could end this war without losing any lives other than Abyss. Thrushstar glanced back at his companions; Eclipsemoon and Shadowstep stood shoulder to shoulder, each ready to assault Abyss, and Eternallight was close behind. These were the finest warriors not only in his Clan but in all the Clans. The rest of the Clan cats were concealed within the darkness of the forest. If anything were to go wrong, the rest of the Clan cats would leap in and fight with tooth and claw. Somewhere among their ranks was Echo, probably listening silently for any sign of trouble.

Thrushstar lifted his tail to signal to his party that they were about to begin the mission. When Thrushstar had double checked both sides, he lowered his tail and began silently creeping forward, his heart pumping and blood roaring in his ears; there was no turning back.

Meanwhile, Umbra had made up his mind to end his father's treacherous reign. He would kill his father and end everything. He did not give up Cecio only to fail and never overthrow his father. He paused in front of his father's massive den, its walls adorned with the skulls of prey and cats alike. These wretched displays only gave him more strength to complete his duty. He slipped inside, slightly moving the moss curtain.

There laid his father, slumbering quietly on the floor. His sides gradually rose and fell with each tainted breath. This was the moment of truth, the moment in which Umbra showed every being, both on earth and above, that he was the master of his own destiny. He would not let this foul creature walk the earth any longer. He approached cautiously, moving with care and deliberation. He could feel his heart pounding within his chest. His father was a mere few inches from his claws. He lifted his paw into the air, preparing to bring it down upon his father's exposed throat....

"What are you doing?" His father's voice came from below him, cold and sneering. "Umbra? Have you at last embraced the traitorous cat I know you to be? Do not take me for a fool, son. I know all that which happens within my domain. You are an insignificant speck in this world. I am a god. Do you not fear me? Do you not revere your own father? Tsk. You're a disappointment, a blight on my perfect world. If you think you can, boy, strike me down. I say again, strike me down. You are worthless. Are you so foolish to believe you could actually defeat /me/, the ruler of this world? I say to you once more, fool, STRIKE ME DOWN!" With that, father leaped at him, clawing and tearing at his flesh.

Pain erupted upon Umbra's body as his father's claws scored across his skin. He knew of his father's prowess in battle. Though not a large cat, his father was demon on the battlefield. But Umbra could not lose, he could not abandon his hope. He heaved upward with all his might, trusting his father off of himself. The black tyrant landed with a thud a few feet from Umbra. Abyss easily rose to his paws.

"Fool. You are weak. You always were my most hated son," he spat, leaping again at Umbra. This time, however, Umbra was prepared for his father's attack. He nimbly shifted to the side, scoring his claws across his father's flank as he flew past. Abyss screeched in rage as he landed. He whipped around and charged into Umbra, impacting against his side. Umbra felt his breath leave his body and felt his father press down upon him, pinning Umbra to the ground. There was no way out. His father cackled with insane delight.

"And now you die! You will know that no cat can oppose my rule!" Abyss growled into his son's face. Abyss lifted his upper body to deliver the death blow. Umbra's eyes saw it; an opening. He pulled his hind legs towards his stomach and kicked his father's midsection with all the power he had, sending Abyss crashing into the stone wall of his den.

The black ruler of the New Order slid down the wall, nearly knocked unconscious from the blow. Umbra could see bone jutting from his father's leg; the fight was nearing its end. Umbra walked slowly towards his father, who was slowly regaining his senses. Abyss' eyes were filled with pain and fear. "Umbra, m-my son! Please, mercy. I am your father, your own flesh and blood. Please...m-mercy," his father pleaded. /Pleaded/. Was this truly the cat Abyss was? A weak coward? Umbra had always known this. He had known from the very beginning that his father was the coward. Abyss struggled against the wall as his son moved closer, panic clear in his actions.

"Son...Please...Spare me....Please don't kill me," his father begged, clearly fearing for his life. Umbra stopped when he reached his father. Wordlessly, he lifted his paw once more. He stared down at his father's pitiful display of weakness. He began to realize he was about to destroy his own father, the cat whose blood he shared. In Umbra's hesitation, Abyss' eyes hardened and he slashed out, connecting with his son's throat. Blood began to flow freely from Umbra's neck, coming in great waves. He collapsed to the floor, his paws at his throat.

"Always the fool. Mercy is for the weak, Umbra," his father hissed, lifting his own paw into the air.

"No, Father, /you/ are weak," Umbra gasped. As his father's eyes widened in shock, Umbra lunged forward with his last bit of energy, closing his jaws around his father's throat. He tore with all the power his love gave him; he tore for Cecio; for Liys; for the Clans. He dropped his father's throat after he could no longer hold it. He saw Abyss fall to the ground, the light leaving his eyes as Death greeted the evil creature. Umbra sighed in release, feeling his own life fading away. Abyss was no more. He had done it, he had ended it all. He closed his eyes and let the darkness envelope him.

A rouge appeared in the doorway. "Is everything all--" he began, then cut off as he saw the pair of cats lying motionless on the floor. He let out a screeching wail of rage and fear. "Abyss is dead! Abyss is dead! His son lays slain as well! Find the murderers! KILL THEM ALL!!!"

Rouges began pouring form the shadows, hissing and yowling cries of battle and rage. Thrushstar watched in dismay as his party was surrounded by crazed fanatics. <So this is the end, eh?> he thought with a smirk. <Not if I can help it!> He roared into the night, flinging himself into battle. The fight for his home had begun.