Larina: Cherished — Cheryl Obrien

Giving birth to a girl on the island of Muvana was almost considered a curse for the family. The traditional culture elevated men to the place of importance, followed by the birth of sons who were in second place ahead of their own mothers. Daughters took last place in all things, so when Larina was born, she was not considered special at all. By the age of nine, she knew what is was like to work all day and go without love, and food, and sleep. Her only value rested in how much she could produce in the way of bamboo hats, baskets, and mats to sleep on. Her only possession was the worn out blanket that covered her during the night. At nine years old her dearest friend Iris passed away from illness and starvation. The reality of that sorrow touched her deeply and even at such a young age she realized that her life was headed in the same direction as her friend. Her only option for survival was to escape the village and move herself into the wilderness to survive alone. After her escape, her life improved but being in the wilderness alone was dangerous for such a young girl. One evening she came across a soldier sleeping by his horse. She warmed herself by his fire and curled up next to a nearby tree to sleep as he slept. In the morning, she introduced herself to Basil Kartian. He was a very pleasant older man with nothing to look forward to except his retirement. They seemed to need each other, so Basil struck a deal with Larina. She would agree to become his daughter and he would agree to help her save the starving girls of Muvana whom Larina referred to as the cherished. This is the story about the development of that sacred agreement and the obstacles along the way.