"We can toss rocks and branches in there to build a dam," said Marylea, as we huddled in the forest by the waterfall mouth. The land surrounding the top of the waterfall was lousy with debris – fallen logs, small and large rocks, gravel. The clear water rushed over the cliff in a heavy torrent, but the riverbed seemed shallow enough.

Fabe hoisted a rock the size of his torso and dropped it near the mouth of the waterfall. All it did was follow the flow of the water and tumble into the falls.

"Okay," said Marylea, putting both hands on her hips. "That wasn't my best idea."

"The current's too strong," I said. "We need something bigger."

"A log," Keenan said.

"A log will only float," said Fabe.

"What I meant was we could stick a log into the mouth, drive it into the ground, one of each side. Form a cross. Then we toss boulders in, and the logs will hold the boulders still."

"Great idea," I said. "We'll try that."

We found two good, sturdy logs laying on the ground after some hunting. Then we gathered sizable boulders to toss into the water and piled them on one side of the mouth of the waterfall.

Now someone needed to get across.

"Ash?" Keenan sounded concerned. "What're you doing?"

I stood at one side of the river swinging my arms.

"Ash - I'll do it. Stop - Ash!"

In a flying leap, I sailed across the river and tumbled on the grass on the other side. I stood and dusted my Caval of grass. "I'm fine!" I said. "Stay there."

Marylea and Fabe both gave a woot. "Great jump, Ash!"

Keenan sighed. "Ash, you could've fallen in. I could've done that."

I ignored Keenan; I guessed the royal tutor would always have an overprotective side. I picked up the log and stuck it into the mouth of the waterfall at an angle. The mouth of the waterfall was quite deep, and only half the log was left sticking out when the base hit rock bottom.

"I need you to place the other log," I said. "Now c'mon."

Shaking his head, Keenan picked up the second log and drove it deep into the riverbed, his log crossing mine on the outside. He rested it on his shoulder.

"Doing all right?" he asked me.

I nodded. The log, which had been swaying in the current, was now easier to hold up with his log supporting mine.

"Now the rocks," I said.

Marylea moved the boulders to Fabe, who rolled them into the waterfall mouth. "Brace yourselves," I said. The first rock rolled slightly, pushed by the current, and rested against Keenan's log.

"It worked!" Marylea cried, clapping her hands together.

Together, Marylea and Fabe rolled more boulders in. The boulders stacked up against each other, pushing against the logs. I braced myself by digging my sandals into the grass. Keenan looked at me from the other side and gave me a nod. I saw that his knuckles were white from gripping the log so tightly. Beads of sweat hung from his forehead.

"It's almost sealed," said Fabe. "Just a few more."

He was right. The waterfall flow had lessened considerably. It was now reduced to a small stream of water.

Fabe rolled three more rocks into the waterfall mouth. The last rock wobbled on its side, as if it couldn't decide where to go. Then, urged by the running water, it leaned against the gap in the rock wall.

The waterfall slowed to a trickle.

"Now the leaves and branches," I said.

They tossed in underbrush to clog whatever holes were left. The trickle became smaller and smaller, until finally it stopped.

"We did it!" cried Marylea. "The waterfall's stopped!"

"Excellent," I said, pulling a grin on my face. "I knew we could do it."

"Yeah," said Marylea. "Guess the Keeper can now do her magic, eh?"

"Marylea," I called. "How about you come over here and hold the log while I run down to inform the Keeper?"

"It's okay," she replied. "I'll go." And she began to run down the hill from where we came. A shock of panic ran through me, and I cried, "No! Marylea, I want to go."

She stopped in her tracks and cocked her head at me. "Really?"

"Yes. I'd like to deliver the good news. If you wouldn't mind."

Marylea shrugged. "Okay. My turn to jump." She did a swinging start and flew gracefully over the river like a gazelle. I grinned and transferred the log onto her. "Let us know when it's done?" said Marylea.

I nodded. "For sure. Fabe - stay here and clog the waterfall whenever needed, all right?"

Fabe nodded and gestured to the pile of shrubbery we'd gathered that lay by his side. "I will."

I smiled. "Good." Then, without glancing at the others, I ran down the hill to meet my fate.

The Keeper was waiting for me with an expression that suggested she'd seen death many times over.

"You're sure you want to do this?" she asked, a bottle in her hand.

"I'm sure," I said. "I hope that's not poison in there. I did threaten to kill you, after all."

The Keeper gave me a small smile. That smile disappeared in a second.

"Remember, this will only work the first few times," she said. "Then you'll develop an immunity to it, and it can no longer save you."

I took the bottle from her with shaking fingers. "Don't worry," I said, trying to inject some bravery into my voice. "It's not like I'm going to fall into the river or something."

The Keeper shot me a grave look. "I hope not."