A Chosen Daughter

Chapter 20*E

Marie sits at Leah's feet head bowed in shame.  Leah was right she had acted out of fear and behaved unbecoming of a chosen daughter!  She hadn't once thought of the others fears, or how they had taken to hearing this news.  Worse she had shamed those already regretful for losing their way, and really it was easy to tell, that it was largely from missing out on having people, who could offer such great guidance as she has had in her life.

Leah turns and leaves the garden, choosing to ignore the looks of amazement on all the faces around her.  

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Five minutes later and many gazes are still staring in the direction Leah had walked in, even though she was no longer in sight.

Everyone that was present was blown away by the young chosen daughter.  Amazed she could look so far beyond herself, was so loyal and dutiful, so passionate and caring!

That was their future Luna?!

"Wow" was a word muttered softly and felt by all.  Everyone was speechless in her absence.

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"I'm so sorry everyone for my behaviour.  I should have never treated any of you in such a manner! .." Marie pauses gathering her composure again "As you can clearly see I still have a long way to go before I can finish my training and claim myself a true chosen daughter and not just a rookie!  I still have a lot to learn from my sisters!  I hope you may all find it in your hearts to accept my deepest apologies!" She finishes wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Arh sweetheart.." "shhh" women of all ages gather around the young distressed woman, comforting her.  "That's not true you know Marie!" Michael tells her softly "You are a chosen daughter not just some rookie!" Many nod in agreement while Marie shakes hers.  "Hey now!  Stop that!" Michael chides "Yeah!" Many agree.  Again Marie shakes her head.

"You can't keep comparing yourself to Leah Marie!  You can't use her to judge if you are worthy of the title of chosen daughter!" Matt tells her softly "Leah's.." he blew out a breath not knowing how to finish that sentence or where to start with a description of his sister.  "The strongest and best of us!" Marie finishes for him instead, he shakes his head.
"Sure she has her strengths but so does everyone!  She's only mortal!" Matt tells her giving her a one arm hug "Trust someone's whose grown up beside her, she would hate for you to compare yourself to her."
"Yeah true ... " Marie laughs a little "She does really hate that!" She sighs but smiles "It drives her crazy that we basically, all use her as a live growth chart, even the Elders do, though they don't openly admit it ... we all make our own personal goals with her in mind, fashioned from her accomplishments.  She's forever scolding us! 'You are incredible, beautiful and amazing!  There's not a single person who can be you - offer to the world what you can, do or say anything in the way you do, you are one in billions and that makes you special!  You should focus on accepting that and not on judging yourself harshly from your perception of another!  The only person you should ever compare yourself to is your yesterday ... are you a better version today?'" She laughs again upon seeing the shocked unsure look on Matts face "No joking Matt!  She down plays it a lot .... try's like hell to deny it .... but she's a keystone amongst the chosen daughters!  I'm not exaggerating when I say the Elders, all the sisters and many more, admire her take and her as example of how to behave!"
"Seriously?!" Arron and Matt ask shocked, Marie nods smiling.
"Yeah!  You didn't know? In the last few years, not only has Leah been the one who handles all the serious situations, many Elders and Alphas alike ask her for advice in how to handle different scenarios .... protocols such piggyback and bay1 they're her ideas."

Everyone looks at her stunned "Erm ..... I take that as a no?!" Marie asks in a small voice.

Suddenly she's very unsure if she should have revealed all of that.