His service under Heatherstar had been brief, but he had never ceased to learn from her. Even now with her disappearance from the clan, he was still proceeding to learn more and more. Now more than ever, he was anxious. His heart raced like a frightened rabbit, those muscular hind legs beating against the ground as powerfully as his heart beat in his chest. Would his Clan accept him? Better yet, would StarClan accept him as WindClan's newest leader? He secretly prayed that Shaded- would greet him at his leader ceremony, but he feared that it would be his ruthless parents who would show their ugly fangs when he awoke in StarClan. You can do this, you can do this...make them proud. Prove them all wrong, Stormchaser.

His efforts to reassure himself often went in vain, the blood never ceased to roar in his ears like a mighty lion. The decision had been very difficult, and he felt horribly guilty about the path he had chosen. With Heatherstar's disappearance, he had no choice but to rise up and take the position. He wasn't replacing her-- he didn't want it to seem that way. WindClan needed a leader, and if they waited for too long, StarClan knew what the other Clans might attempt to do. They couldn't be seen as weak, even if avoiding war was one of their top priorities.

He'd see to it that it remained that way, anyways. It wasn't because he was insecure about leading the Clan so much as he would rather see his clanmates safe from harm. Lynxstar rubbed him the wrong way. Maybe it was his intimidating stature or battle-hungry warriors that lie in wait behind him, but Stormchaser simply wanted to avoid any negative relationship with them, or any other Clan, for that matter. Neutrality would keep them safe, for now. Stormchaser knew they'd have to act eventually, but...now wasn't a good time. When the moment was right, he was certain he'd know.

The roaring of the plummeting water was deafening, and the water was seemingly unaltered by the frigid leafbare air. Stormchaser paused before the entrance, taking in a deep and unsteady breateh to hopefully ready himself for what fate had in store for him. Was he ready? Was this anxious and scatter-brained tom really the leader that WindClan needed?