[HRW] Bali and Bronze Balisk Journal

[Mortane]

[Entry 12]

Dear Mother

I'm certain you'll be pleased to learn that other then tossing a boot at Varro when his teasing and jokes go a little overboard he and I seem to be getting along quite well. Balisk and Varrosk play together often as well and I think working together the two wher's will compliment each other. Varro plans to train Varrosk in Search and Rescue which with the harsh winters High Reaches Weyr can have that will likely come in handy in the case of avalanches or the possibility of Weyrfolk getting lost out in a snowstorm. Hopefully none of these tragedies will come to pass, but where as Varrosk is small and fast enough to find them Balisk will be quite handing in helping dig anyone out.

I was also able to finish my sketch of Varrosk as promised and have included it in this letter for you to see. Maybe with time I'll do one of Varro too since you seem so interested in him. Anyway lately I've been putting the skills taught to during my whertraining to use in working leather to make a type of booties for Balisk and Varrosk though getting the two to hold still long enough to take measurements certainly is a feat.

Either way the booties are coming along well and I think i'll have them done soon. I've also made them adjustable so that until the whers reach adolescence they should fit. Varro and I have come up with a plan to possibly incorporate the Weyrfolk into some of our training. Our Search and tracking training to be more specific and the booties will also help there to keep Balisk from accidentally scratching someone in his excitement and help protect both wher's feet from snow and ice come the winter months and offer better traction.

Tomorrow night I will be taking Balisk on his first Weyr patrol with me. Here's hoping all goes well. His basic training has been going fine so I do not believe he'll be too much of a danger should I take him along during work tomorrow.

Let us hope all goes well.

Love
Bali  

[Mortane]

[Entry 13]

Dear Whermaster

I have begun taking bronze Balisk on Weyr patrol with me starting out later once it is full dark and bringing him back in before the sky lightens with dawn until his eyes are better adjusted. I successfully did this for the first time last night.

The patrol went quite well and I found the Balisk does not easily spook when a dragon came in late and landed in the bowl. Asking the riders permission I carefully introduced Balisk to the dragon and rider with little trouble. The bronze seems to rather like dragons though he did growl a little at the rider, but otherwise obeyed his training and my command to not attack.

I do not know how well his training will hold up when faced with multiple dragons, riders, and large groups yet, but so far the patrol was a success. He's begun to slowly speak using mental words in my head. Basic things of course, but is improving by the day.

I have high hopes for his training and will begin to lengthen the time I take him out on patrol until he's doing full shifts. I will also begin seeing what alternating shifts the other handler Varro and brown Varrosk will be taking. With any luck our steady progress will continue and High Reaches Weyr will soon have a strong and capable Watchwher. I have also finished the crafting of a set of leather booties for Balisk and Varrosk to both lessen the chance of any injury they might cause if we decide to integrate Weryfolk into some basic search and tracking training and also, until they outgrow the adjustments, provide traction and protection from sharp ice during the winter.

Until my next report I wish you an uneventful shift.

-Journeywoman Bali of Bronze Balisk  

[Mortane]

[Entry 14]

Dear Mother

My first patrol with Balisk went quite well as did the second one. The only bad thing is that Varrosk's love and fascination with shoes seems to have rubbed off on Balisk who kept trying to steal boots from the Weyr laundry room. Luckily I got them back from him quick enough and returned them to their rightful place before anyone was the wiser. I really do need to get him some more leather straps and chewing bones. Luckily the cooks are nice enough to let me have a lot of the excess bones and I've been working hard to collect scrap leather for Balisk to chew on. He just has such strong jaws. His teeth have already begun to slowly start coming in so he's gnawing on just about everything.

At least the laundry boot incident gave me the chance to work on instilling in him the fact that stealing was wrong and that damaging Weyr property was even worse. I think after a couple of days I might volunteer for Tunnelsnake hunting duties and take Balisk with me and begin teaching him the basics of hunt and kill. This will hopefully help him develop a good fighting style of his own and chasing after nimble tricky tunnelsnakes will be good practice for him.

That and his hide is so thick that they shouldn't be able to hurt him much, but still startle him enough to get him mad and let him work out that aggression. It will also help me in teaching him the how not to kill and not to attack even when angry unless I give the word or am in danger. I think I may even invite Varro and Varrosk along.

It's good to hear that the Inn is doing well.

Love
Bali  

[Mortane]

[Entry 15]

Dear Mother

The High Reaches Weyr is quite extensive. With the amount of damage the Telgar Plague did to the population there are hundreds of empty rooms and weyrs. Why there are even whole sections of the Weyr that probably haven't been touched in turns! Many many rooms, dorms, and store rooms left empty, abandoned. It's quite somber.

I bring this up because so far Varro and I's dens and the common area we share has been left rather bare. So one night after supper when I found I had a little bit of extra time on my hands Balisk and I went down to speak with the Headwoman and see about getting some sturdy or easily repairable chairs and maybe a table or two and some desks so I don't have to keep writing these letters on a windowsill or my knee and Balisk shifts too much when he stretches out in my lap to be a good makeshift desk. Then again it's his fault for not moving I suppose.

I was luckily able to acquire some of these things, bot that there would have been any trouble. Why the store rooms were just packed full of furniture and with the help of some drudge lads I was able to get everything back and set up how I like it and set Varro's things aside for him to shift to how he see's fit. I even let Balisk carry a few small things since he would have just dragged the chairs since though he's strong he was likely to break anything too large for him to force through a doorway.

I've decided too volunteer the two of us for firestone hauling duties. I've got the proper packs and harness built together and ready for Balisk and it would serve to be good strength and endurance training for him as well as myself. We'll start off small of course, but as he gets older I plan to build up the loads and maybe the more I integrate him with crowds I can begin taking him on shopping trips with me when I'm not on shift to local holds or during gather nights.

We'll have to see though.

Love
Bali  

[Mortane]

[Entry 16]
Hidden in a bottom drawer of Bali's desk is a scroll of quickly scribbled poems and haiku that look to have been jotted down whenever the urge to write took the workaholic wherhandler.

There a Golden Crown
Red Royal blood awakes
Today bares a King

To most the dawn is marked by the day.
But for us my dear companion the moon lights the way.
In the dark the Weyrfolk sleep in their beds
While we prowl the corridors so nightmares remain in their heads.
Because Dragons sleep and because dragons dream
While in the night watchful wher eyes glint and gleam.

Weyrwoman, Wherwoman, Watch with care.
Weyrmen and Whermen, Heed their lair.
Bronze boys, big boys, beware their fangs.
Brown boys, watch boys, feel the pangs.
Queens come in many colors, sleeping in their dens.
With Blue boys, Green girls, all be friends.
Gold hide, grand teeth or little woman fair.
Queens come in many colors so watch with care.

We are the Watchguards.
Standing by the gate.
We are the Watchguards.
We are justice scale and weight.
We are the Watchguards.
Treading paths where no one dares.
We are the Watchguards.
Catching trouble in our snares.

The Bronze King sleeps content.
For in his dreams everything he lays eyes on is his.
When he wakes though he will not be sad.
For in his mind he is always King.
Because one can take his weyr, take his home, take his things.
But as long as we have each other he'll always be my King.
And though I lack hide of gold, I his Queen.

Flitters chitter chatting on the window sill.
How I'd love to toss them off and if they keep chattering maybe I will.
Flitters chitter chatting away.
I stay up all night and they keep me awake all day.
Flitters chitter chatting up a storm.
Why oh why was I cursed with a flitter swarm?

His eyes are bright like with a canine's gleam.
Gold in the light and wilder then they seem.
His smiles and jokes baying at my heels.
My companions a thief.
Your breath he will steal.
Beware my partner though tame he may play.
I doubt you'd wish to meet him in a fight or a fray.

 

[Mortane]

[Entry 17]

Dear Mother

Sometimes it's the little things that are the most rewarding in life. I'm certain you already knew this fact though. Balisk was so very adorable today. It was our rest day so I decided to forgo lessons and just let him enjoy himself while I sat down in the common room and worked on some of the harnesses and read through some old scrolls of my favorite stories and ballads. For a while Balisk just ran about and played with Varrosk a little or chewed on the big leg bone I was able to get him, but finally growing somewhat bored he came over and flopped onto my feet like a large bronze throw blanket.

He's sadly always been too big to really sit in my lap even when he had just hatched he could barely fit. Looking up at me I could sense he wanted to know what I was doing and asked "What that?" He's slowly working his way up to small sentences now. So I told him it was a scroll that it told me things.

Well of course being the curious thing that he is he wanted to know so scratching his eyeridges I began to read to him. I don't think he understood all of the story or what I was exactly saying, but he seemed to greatly enjoy it. In fact when I paused he nudged my leg urging me to continue. I felt rather bad making him crane his big neck up at me so instead grabbing one of the chair pads I sat down in front of the fire Balisk curling himself around my back letting me lay and rest my head on him while he rested his head on my shoulder and looked at the scroll. I think he was trying to puzzle out what all the letters mean, but wasn't quite able too and instead settled for puffing at it with frustration and just listening. Eventually after a time we both drifted off to sleep and I woke up somewhat stiff, but with a big warm wher head tucked against mine still fast asleep.

I do not, no I cannot envy the dragonriders their companions for in my eyes no dragon could ever compare to my lovely bronze Balisk.

Love
Bali  

[Mortane]

[Entry 18]

Dear Mother.

No Varro and I haven't interacted too much of late. Yes I am aware that he is handsome, well handsome then some men. No I'm not seeing some other rider. No mother I also have no plans too. Riders aren't all as romantically charged and suave men as you seem to picture them as. I mean they have plenty of problems, there are drunkards and lazy people among their ranks too. Why there's this one blue rider that I hear the wings ranting about all the time who almost always shows up to practice hung over.

Though I will admit watching the wings is impressive. Sometimes when they run late and come in round dusk I get to see them before I go and dine and begin patrols with Balisk. Balisk is doing very well also, but back to Varro.

Varrok and Varrosk's training seems to be going well from what I can tell. Still no idea if he wants to maybe later on take Varrosk down into the bowls of the Weyr and let our two whers hunt tunnelsnakes together. See I am making a conscious effort to try and 'get to know him' as you've been urging me to do. I will admit I should learn at least some more about him. I'm not even sure where he got transferred in from. All I really know is that he get's cold extremely easy, almost insanely easy and seems to be a hard worker.

Though he can be sharding infuriating sometimes with that teasing of his. Also from how the drudges seem to hang off his every word I take it he's kind to them. Hopefully not that kind of 'kind' since our weyrs aren't that well separated and if he wants to bring back that sort of company we're going to have some problems.

Yes yes I know mother you think I'm being a prude, but you and I both know how picky I am and I don't know the man that well! Sides there are plenty of perfectly handsome male riders about.

Anyway mother please do try to stay out of trouble and not make the customers blush too crimson.

Love
Bali  

[Mortane]

[Entry 19]

Dear Mother

You asked me to tell you a bit about Gold Queen Dragons. Well from what I can tell they are a lot like Gold whers. Very proud, commanding, sure, definitely in charge. The Weyrwoman of High Reaches Weyr is rather young so she get's questioned a lot, but I rather like her style. She does what she feels is best and provides for the Weyr and doesn't seem to let any of the older male riders darken her skies.

Her Dragon is beautiful too. A bright Shining gold. They think she'll rise soon. We're all hoping there will be a Queen egg in the clutch since from what I've heard she doesn't seem to lay them often. It will be interesting to see who impresses and to what dragon. Even better it will be interesting to just get a glimpse of the eggs, but it's likely I won't get to see them till hatching day.

I'm rather hoping the hatching will be at night so I can bring Balisk to watch it with me. I think being among the crowd and dragons would be good for him and help him learn about Weyr events and how to deal with them. I was taught that exposing whers to many new situations when they're younger helps them better learn to deal with them and not be startled when they're older. I am also trying to socialize him a good deal. Were I working in a Hold or elsewhere I wouldn't make it such an issue, but everyone in the Weyr is very social and where we are puts us right in the thick of things. With so many people coming and going I need Balisk to be able to learn the difference between a friendly Weyr local and a dangerous imposter. So as much training as possible will help.

I can't risk him attacking the wrong person now can I? He'd get put down for sure and the very idea chills the blood in my veins. So I work hard and Balisk works hard and we both grow together. Though I almost wish he could stay as well. . .little isn't the right word, but not as big as he's going to be forever. He's so absolutely adorable.

I'm glad to hear that that storm didn't cause too much damage and hope to hear from you soon.

Love
Bali  

[Mortane]

[Entry 20]

Dear Mother

I received your care package today. Thank you so much for the cidar. I even offered Varro a nice warm mug of it. You were right this years batch is quite wonderful, much better then the klah I've been drinking. Though in my defense it is very good klah, it just doesn't hold a candle to your cidar. Thank you for the new scrolls and boots as well. My old ones were getting very worn and weren't quite padded enough to keep out the night chill. The downy fur cloak is absolutely beautiful. You know you really didn't have to send all of this, but I thank you nonetheless. I don't make much as a wherhandler yet and what I do right now goes towards purchasing leather for either Balisk to chew or to work on making him harnesses and other gear for when he get's bigger.

Balisk also loves the toys you sent. He's even got the little flitter doll in his nest right now and has managed to not chew it up though it is looking a little worse for wear from him and Varrosk playing with it a little. I'll be sure to send you back a scroll or two of some of the sketches I've made of High Reaches and our whers and maybe even one of Varro if he'll let me draw him. I'll also include some of the dragon sketches.

Also yes mother I do have the gather dress you made me pack and yes mother I promise if there is a gather or hatching I will wear it. I want to represent my home well even if I'm not exactly fond of the dratted pieces of clothing. Eh-hem though I enjoy your gifts I do have to question that scroll of questionable story content you sent me. Why mother! I turned so red Balisk started wondering if I was on fire! Right now I've hidden it under my bed and I swear if someone finds it I'll just die of embarrassment! I'm supposed to be a staunch figure of authority!

Anyway mother please try not to be so. . .you all the time. Also yes I promise I'm taking good care of things.

Love
Bali