The noise they had gone without hearing for a few days has returned. Ava wakes to the rumble of trucks and machines being brought into the yard. She's up on her feet so quick that her head spins. Ava rushes to the window and what she sees is not something good at all. Standing with the bad men who want to take away her safe haven is Derek. He wears the same clothing as them, a yellow and orange hard hat, and a bright orange vest. The big scary man standing next to him is pointing directly at the wooded area. Derek shakes his head, then the man says something.

Ava can feel her pulse race, she's both mad and sad at the same time. With so many emotions raging through her she doesn't know whether she should laugh or cry. Instead, she does something so unlike her. She bangs on the window so hard that her hands turn red. The noise rattles her sisters awake, and finally catches the attention of Derek and the man next to him. They both look up and Derek's eye catches hers. Ava shakes her head like she's disappointed in Derek's choice.

The door bursts open, aunt Chris and her mom come barreling into the room. Her mom rushes to her daughter and pulls her into her arms.

"Mommy," Ava cries, her shoulders tremble with each sob.

"What are those bad men doing?"

"Maybe it's time we go home," she says.

"NO!"

Ava shouts louder than she's ever shouted in her whole life. She's so angry, how could anyone want to get rid of something so beautiful just to build more homes or stores? Ava did not understand.

"I don't want to go home, we have to stop them," she says.

"Honey you can't just..."

Ava squirms out of her mom's grip and races for the stairs. She's not running away this time, but she's going to tell them to turn around and go home. She wants to tell them they have no place here. On her way out she grabs a drawing from off the refrigerator. She made it the other day when they had returned from girls day at the falls. She drew a picture of the falls and the flowers surrounding it, the animals who came to drink beside her, and she drew swirls for the wind. They have to know what they are tearing down.

Ava rushes out of the house and down the steps nearly falling on her face at the bottom step.

"Stop!" she yells.

Derek hears her first and looks up. The evil man next to him is the next to look at Ava. She runs to them paper in her hand and stops when she gets inches away. Derek kneels and touches her shoulder.

"Sweetie, you should get inside..."

"Don't sweetie me Derek," she says folding her arms at her chest. "You know how special this place is, how can you just let it go?" she cries.

"I don't have a say in what happens here," he tries to explain.

"Sure you do. Tell them about the waterfall and the cave. You even said the cave was..."

The man stares down at Derek, his cheeks turn red with anger. Derek stands and looks at the evil man. Ava thinks Derek is about to jump in and fight the man, only he doesn't. Ava can hear the men whispering, but she knows it's not Derek trying to stop what is happening.

"You lied!" she yells at Derek, poking his belly button. "You promised you would find a way to keep it safe. You promised," she cries, just as she's swept up into her mom's arms.

As her mom lifts her, she drops the drawing into the dirt, but it doesn't matter anymore it seems her fight is over. Lauren Darling apologizes first to Derek's boss and then to Derek. Derek doesn't seem bothered, but his boss looks annoyed. Lauren brings her daughter inside and sits her down at the kitchen table where aunt Chris has already poured her a glass of chocolate milk, in hopes it will calm her down.

"Derek lied! He's a meanie head!"

Ava crosses her arms at her chest and pouts.

"Sweetheart, that's Derek's job. He needs it. You can't just go out there and tell those grown men what to do. Do you hear me?"

"Are you giving up too?" she asks her mom.

Lauren looks up at her sister, hoping she can help her out, but aunt Chirs is quietly watching. She's unsure how to make Ava feel better.

"How can you give up, Seven coming to visit was a sign mama. It was a sign that there is magic in those woods. We can't let them destroy it!"

"Please," Ava cries, ignoring the hot chocolate that's being pushed towards her by aunt Chris.

The door swings open and Derek comes inside. He's got the paper in his hand and he sets it down on the table.

"Mind if I give it a go?" he asks.

Lauren stands, hoping that Derek can explain.

"Hi Ava. Look I know you're angry with me."

"Hmph," she says, turning the other way.

"The good news is we aren't starting any work today, just cleaning up some more. There's still time..."

"You're on their side now."

Ava hops down from her chair.

"It's over," she says sadly, "The magic is gone."

With her head down, Ava sullenly walks out of the kitchen, and just when she's out of sight she sits on the stairs to listen to the adults talk.

"Guys I have my hands tied here, there's literally nothing I can do...."

"You should probably go."

She hears aunt Chris say to him.

"Chris I..."

"We'll talk later," she says, her voice sounds so sad.

Ava hears the door open and close. Before anyone can notice she races to her room and throws herself on her bed. No matter how many times her family members come in to check on her she still refuses to get up. She doesn't want to face a world without magic in it. Not now, not ever.