Waterfalls: An Epic Fantasy Adventure

By Katia Amaya

When Sally and Joey embark on a hike in the Red Hill Valley with their science teacher, Mr. Z, they never expect to be shrunken in size by a wayward cascati spell. Who knew the mysterious nature lovers depended on the falls for their life source and magic?
Beautiful, adventurous Xiomara, daughter of elder Kuku, eagerly awaits for her twin sister, Xhalla to give birth. When Albion Falls runs dry, the twins need to attempt the trek to their estranged brethren at Felker's Falls, to ensure life source for Xhalla's unborn child. Could elder Zanta, the mythical leader of the Felkrati, hold the key to returning their new human allies to giant size?
Now, human and cascati must band together to overcome the perils of the woods and the uncertainty of being linked on a life or death quest with a dangerously fascinating new species.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781504914956

Katia Amaya

Katia Amaya is an avid trailrunner and fantasy adventure junkie in her hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. When she's not geocacheing or hiking trails with her husband and two children, Katia works as a nurse. This book was inspired by and is dedicated to the colourful cast of characters who populate Katia's everyday life.

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WATERFALLS

An Epic Fantasy Adventure

KATIA AMAYA

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©

2019 Katia Amaya. All rights reserved.

Interior Graphics/Art Credit by Corry Leblanc

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Published by AuthorHouse 10/23/2019

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1496-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1495-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015908423

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Preface and Acknowledgements

T he Red Hill Valley in Hamilton, Ontario is home to a diverse collection of plant and wildlife. It boasts over 10 km of trails that extend from the top of the Niagara Escarpment to Lake Ontario. In 2007, the City of Hamilton opened the Red Hill Valley Parkway. While the trail system was preserved, some activists were concerned about the fate of wildlife in the va lley.

When the Parkway was constructed, the City erected poles and an underpass to help the southern flying squirrels navigate their way across the Mt. Albion Road, referred to as The Great Road in the story. These rare nocturnal creatures were the inspiration for the flyboys in Waterfalls.

The Cascati were inspired by another local endangered species, the Jefferson salamander. These creatures spend winter underground, and seek out ponds each March to lay their eggs underwater, attached to vegetation. Every year, the city of Burlington (just next door to Hamilton) closes a stretch of road to allow the salamanders to migrate safely. Unlike the Jefferson salamanders, which lose their gills and become land-dwellers, the Cascati cling to the water nightly to recharge and renew their life force.

I am greatly indebted to my family and friends for their love and support throughout the completion of this project. To Ross, Mavis, Lynda, Mary, Kristan, Alysha, Lee, Karen, Ingrid, Louise, Melanie, and Vesna, and who took the time to read and give feedback, thank you! Hanosha and Kim, thank you for letting me incorporate your dreams. Corry Leblanc, thank you for all your suggestions, encouragement, and beautiful artwork. Thank you to Carm, Valentina, and Alessia for pushing me to just get this done.

It is my hope that this work of fiction will inspire readers to have faith and an ever-curious spirit. May you find adventure wherever you are.

Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter One

"I can go higher than you can! Watch this!" Sally Torelli laughed as she pumped her legs harder, threatening to bring the swing perpendicular to the gr ound.

Wanna bet? retorted her best friend, Joey Gomez. Joey jolted into action, leaning his torso back as he steadily gained momentum. Soon, the two swings were in sync, carrying their riders six feet into the air and causing the Roxborough Park swingset to bounce. Considering that she and Joey had been challenging each other to swing contests for a good five years now, Sally was surprised that the swingset hadn’t given out sooner.

Sally and Joey had been best friends since grade two, when Joey’s family first moved to Hamilton from El Salvador. Joey lived just around the corner in the co-op city housing on Roxborough Road. Sally and her mom Jennifer lived a few houses away on Beland street. It was only natural that Sally and Joey would start walking to St. Helen’s Elementary together. They soon became inseparable: they loved to ride bikes, play in the park, and, eventually, explore the trails of the Red Hill Valley together. It was a good thing, too, because Jennifer Torelli had joined the Hamilton Police Force when Sally was in grade four. Her mom’s shift work meant that Sally spent a lot of time at Joey’s house; Sally could now make tortillas and speak broken Spanish almost as well as broken Italian.

Joey loved having Sally around. While other girls her age were interested in boys, makeup, and the latest teen pop sensations, Sally was still riding bikes, running on the school cross country team, and playing soccer.

Joey’s parents, Maria and Carlos, loved Sally, too. Sally had been their shy son’s first friend when he came to St. Helen’s without speaking a word of English. It wasn’t the first time the Gomez family had adopted another kid. Back in San Salvador, Maria’s sister and brother-in-law were innocent victims of guerilla violence. Maria and Carlos had adopted Maria’s niece, Diana, and brought her with them to Canada to start a new life. Carlos had been a mechanic in El Salvador, and he now toiled in the shop at Canadian Tire. Maria was a talented hairstylist who cut hair in her living room. Maria’s mother Lupe – Joey’s "abuelita" - had fled to Canada with them. The move to Canada had been hard for Joey at first, but he was doing well now. In fact, he had just won the school spelling bee and was on St. Helen’s Trivia Challenge Team! Maria and Carlos were very proud.

Ha! Looks like we’re about even! First one to jump off, run to the fence and back wins! Joey was sure he could take Sally – she may have won her division at cross country last week, but he was the faster sprinter.

Wins what? laughed Sally. She was always looking for a good bet.

Winner gets to be the first to touch a waterfall tomorrow! Sally and Joey were going on a Saturday hike with their favourite science teacher, Mr. Ziolkowsky – affectionately known to the entire grade seven class as Mr Z.. Once a month, Mr. Z. chose two students to go hiking in the Red Hill Valley – and share his two passions – science and the outdoors. He had promised to treat them to a day-long hike – from the Red Hill Valley Trail access on Greenhill Avenue, up to Mt. Albion Falls, back along the Bruce Trail all the way to Felker’s Falls, and then down the Veevers Side Trail back to Greenhill Avenue. It was a good 10 km loop, but both Joey and Sally were up to the challenge.

You’re on! On your mark – get set – go!

The two friends bounded off the swings and started sprinting across the field. Joey reached the fence just ahead of Sally, who fearlessly chased him on the way back. Joey was headed for victory when a familiar figure opened her arms and stopped him with a bearhug.

"Eh, abuelita, I was winning!"

Come on, Joseito, Lupe chuckled. "You two have to save your energy for tomorrow. Hola Sally! Come here, mi amor! Lupe had saved a hug for Sally, too. Sally, your mama is home from work now. Here, take this… Lupe reached for the nearby picnic table and picked up a bowl wrapped in tea towels. Pupusas frescas".

Sally loved Abuelita Lupe’s pupusas. Joey called them the Salvadoran version of a grilled cheese sandwich. Sally didn’t care what they were called – she just enjoyed the salty white cheese that melted just right in between two of Lupe’s corn tortillas. Her mom sure appreciated them at the end of a long shift, too. Abuelita had even included a side of curtido – spicy cabbage salad – to make sure Sally and Jennifer got their vegetables. "Gracias, abuelita!" She gave Lupe a kiss on each cheek.

Sally was in awe of Lupe. While her own grandma, or nonna, as she called her, was busy knitting and organizing the spaghetti supper for St. Eugene’s parish, abuelita was riding her road bike out in Binbrook with the Hamilton Free Wheelers road bike club, or swimming with the Masters program at the Y. Or, helping coach St. Helen’s cross country team. Or, working part-time at Tim Hortons to help support the family. All this, and still making delicious pupusas.

"Oye, Sally, I’m going to pick you up tomorrow. I have a Free Wheelers ride out in Binbrook, anyway, and it’s on the way."

"Gracias abuelita…Joey, what time did Mr. Z. say?"

We’re supposed to meet him at d’Alesio’s supermarket at nine o’clock. He says the best chance of seeing deer is in the morning, and then we can focus on plant life in the afternoon.

I can’t wait! See you tomorrow!

Sally and Joey both smiled. Tomorrow was going to be an amazing adventure.

Chapter Two

T his was Xiomara’s favourite time of day. The sun was about to set, and the mist from Mt. Albion Falls made the rocks just slimy enough to get cozy. Together with the rest of the tribe, Xiomara listened intently to another of Kuku’s fascinating t ales.

Her father was the last surviving member of the Mt. Albion tribe to have lived through the Great Exodus – to make the trek from Kaska Niagara to the Red Hill Valley. Kuku loved to recount how the elders had used a mass incantation to render all the Cascati the size of giants. They had trekked through the woods, mostly by nightfall, relying only on the moonlight and the glow from their bulging, iridescent eyes. They had made it as far as Ball’s Falls in Grimsby before the magic wore off and they each gradually returned to the size of a pear or a maple leaf. By sunlight, they stood under the rush of Ball’s Falls, drawing vital life energy from the rush of the water. They rested, and planned to continue their journey eastward at moonlight, always to remain unseen by the giants who hiked the Bruce Trail during the sun time.

Xiomara stretched, and brushed her long, green, gilyea from across her back and onto her right shoulder. She relaxed her dorsal fins, and allowed her twin sister, Xhalla, to rest her head on the now gilyea-free shoulder. Is it time? asked Xiomara excitedly.

Xhalla giggled and sighed. Not quite ripe yet. Another seven moonlights, by my reckoning. From Xhalla’s other side, Klingo beamed with pride. He stretched a long, green arm around Xhalla’s shoulder, and gently massaged her fins. His other hand pressed lightly against her burgeoning belly.

A few more moonlights, and I shall be a papa to a little cascato!

Or cascata! joked Xiomara. It’s going to be a female, I can sense it! And a beautiful, adventurous one at that, with you two for parents!

I don’t feel very adventurous these days, Xio, groaned Xhalla. I can barely move unless I’m swimming in the creek.

Shhh! Kvera turned around and glared at the trio. This is the best part – Keep it down! Xiomara smiled apologetically. She forgot that not everyone was fortunate enough to have access to Kuku’s poetry all the time. Poetry was a tradition and art amongst the Cascati. Why tell a story in plain language if you could tell it in verse? It was so much more uplifting; it turned an everyday event into an adventure. The humans could keep their blinking boxes of flashing lights; Xiomara preferred to be carried away by words and leave the rest to her imagination.

Kuku paused for effect. He had just finished telling everyone how the waterfall to the east, at Felker’s Falls, was beautiful, but too small to sustain the entire remnant of the group that had set out from Kaska Niagara. So, the tribe split; and Kuku’s great-great-grandfather became the leader of the tribe that pushed west.

"From Felker’s we once more our forces drew

And set out when the day was new,

To find the next falls on the trail,

Our need was great – we must not fail!

Across the mountain, we heard the stream,

That led us onward to our dream!

Moonlight passed, the sun lit the sky,

And we were again only three inches high!

We stopped in the pond, our strength to restore,

And by moonlight yet set out once more,

Down and up, and round the hill,

Through forest thick and darker still.

By daybreak we heard the water gush,

And quickly forward we did rush –

Never more so far to roam –

We’d reached fair Albion, now our home!"

Applause broke out amongst the assembled tribe. Xhalla brushed away a tear from her eye. Xiomara returned the smile, giving her twin a knowing glance. They were proud of their father’s gift for verse, and his unofficial position as the elder of the tribe.

But Kuku! A voice broke in from in front of them. How could the ancestors be restored by the pond in just one moonlight!? The pond isn’t a waterfall!

Shhh! Kvera moved quickly to hush her son, Bilo.

No, no Kvera, that’s all right cooed Kuku. His eyes shone with delight at being able to pass on his knowledge. Despite their kindness, Kuku’s eyes glowed a bit more dimly – this was a sign of age. His back bent slightly, and his fins were more than often limp, but Kuku still loved to share his stories. It seemed that the youngsters shared some of their energy with him, whenever he shared his tales. Well, Bilo – and anyone else who was too shy to ask – remember, the ancestors had, before the exodus, taken the waters of Kaska Niagara every day. The force of that mighty torrent is far greater than that of Albion and Felker’s combined! I remember as a child, only needing to spend one minute every morning under its flow – and this would sustain me for one day, sometimes two! Kaska Niagara kept our magic much stronger, and we were never fully drained throughout the Exodus.

Wow! exclaimed Bilo. I have to stand under Albion for ten whole minutes to recharge every morning!

Yes, well, some of us need even more than that, these days laughed Kuku.

And some even more still! groaned Xhalla.

Now, now, love, that condition is temporary, smiled Kuku. He was excited at being a grandfather for the first time. Xhalla had taken her time about choosing a mate, since both she and Xiomara were adventurers at heart.

All Cascati were endowed with the gift of plant germination. Most of the Albion tribe females spent their days painting the white trilliums pink or black to confuse the hikers, or to help the grass and trees grow. They took care not to overpaint the wild, and to make the changes so subtly that the giants wouldn’t suspect that anything was enhancing the Red Hill’s natural beauty. Since Albion Falls could only sustain them for one sunlight’s time, the Cascati would return to the falls’ mist at sunset, after playing in the surrounding woods. The more adventurous among them might climb up the rock face behind the falls and listen to the passing wheeled beasts and walking giants that traveled along Mountain Brow Road. Of course, they did this from a safe distance.

Xhalla and Xiomara belonged to the more adventurous category. Not content to explore their immediate surroundings, they would sometimes travel into the valley as far as the bridge that crossed the creek! Why, that was halfway to Frog’s pond – the one that Kuku himself had rested in so long ago. On other days, they would climb up the rockface behind Albion Falls, and continue eastward along the Mountain Brow side trail to the parkette on Mud Road. Here, the giants left their wheeled beasts before they began their hikes. It was especially dangerous if the giants brought their dogs. Just like Cascati, dogs had keen senses of smell, and could pick up the Cascati scent. There was enough danger in being trampled by a hiker; Kuku didn’t even want to imagine Xhalla or Xiomara being scouted by a keen canine nose.

The twins were inseparable until three years ago, when they very foolishly decided to attempt the trek all the way to Frog’s Pond and back! They each spent a full 20 minutes under Albion Falls that morning, until their bodies could withstand no more energy coursing through their veins. They told only Kvera, their less adventurous friend, of their intention, and swore her to secrecy until they had departed on their journey. Both the creek and the pond could sustain them; it would just take much, much, longer to restore their strength without the falls.

By moonlight, Xhalla and Xiomara rested in the creek. The flowing water didn’t have the falls’ power, but by sunlight, they were able to push on for the next leg of their journey. Fortunately, that sunlight’s fall of rainwater aided their mission. Such it was that they were able to reach Frog’s Pond a full hour before moonlight. Feeling elated at being the first of the Albion tribe to travel so far since the time of their great-great-great grandfather, Xhalla and Xiomara decided to press on until the first sign of sunset before returning to the safety of the pond for moonlight.

They had traveled only ten treelengths when they had to stop. Where Kuku had told always of a continuous trail through the valley, a huge grey slab of hard surface now cut through the forest. Xiomara and Xhalla had seen this surface before. Xiomara had heard the hikers at the parkette call this surface a parking lot. This time, though, no wheeled beasts were parked; instead they rumbled swiftly passed as they headed up or down the hill. The rabbits in the valley often spoke of their brothers and sisters who had fallen