Chapter 17: Anita's Transformation

Chapter 16: The Mountain Trip

The mountain air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth as Anita adjusted her backpack. The school camping trip had sounded like a much-needed escape from the chaos of her life, but now, as she trudged up the steep trail, she wondered if it was worth the sore legs.

“Why did I think this was a good idea again?” Anita muttered to herself, glancing at Max and Claire ahead, who were bickering over which trail led to the best campsite.

“Come on, Anita!” Claire called, laughing. “You’re the one who wanted to be adventurous!”

Anita forced a smile and pushed forward, though the weight of the pendant around her neck felt heavier than usual. Jace, who had managed to tag along by convincing the teachers he was a student volunteer, walked a few paces behind her.

“You’re quiet,” Anita said, glancing back at him.

“Just watching,” Jace replied, his voice calm but his eyes scanning their surroundings with sharp focus.

The trail narrowed as they ascended higher, the dense forest giving way to rocky terrain. Anita, distracted by her thoughts, didn’t notice the loose gravel beneath her boots until it was too late.

The ground shifted, and Anita felt herself slipping. She let out a startled scream as her feet gave way, the world tilting violently.

“Anita!” Claire’s voice rang out, but it was distant, drowned out by the sound of rushing wind and the thundering of her own heartbeat.

She tumbled down a ravine, rocks and branches scraping her arms and legs. The fall seemed endless until she came to a jarring stop on a narrow ledge. Pain shot through her body, but it wasn’t enough to numb the panic rising in her chest.

Above her, Jace appeared at the edge of the ravine, his eyes glowing faintly. Without hesitation, he leaped down, landing gracefully beside her.

“You’re reckless,” he said, his tone more concerned than scolding as he crouched beside her.

“I didn’t mean to—” Anita winced, trying to sit up. Her ankle throbbed, and her hands were trembling.

Jace placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. “Don’t move. You’re hurt.”

Closing his eyes, Jace placed his hand over hers, and Anita felt a warmth radiating through her body. The pendant around her neck began to glow, its light pulsating in sync with Jace’s steady breathing.

“What are you doing?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Saving you,” Jace replied simply.

A surge of energy coursed through her, and for a moment, it felt like she was floating. The pain in her ankle faded, replaced by a strange, tingling sensation. Jace’s face was strained, his brow furrowed in concentration as the light from the pendant intensified.

When it was over, Anita felt… different. Stronger, lighter, as if something deep within her had awakened.

“Jace…” she began, but he shook his head.

“We need to get back,” he said, his voice firm. He helped her to her feet, and Anita was surprised to find that she could stand without pain.

As they climbed back up the ravine, Anita couldn’t shake the feeling that something profound had just happened—something that would change everything.

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Chapter 17: Anita’s Transformation

Back at the campsite, Anita couldn’t sleep. The warmth from earlier still lingered, coursing through her veins like a second heartbeat. She stared at the pendant in her hand, its faint glow almost hypnotic in the darkness.

“Stop overthinking,” Jace said, his voice breaking the silence.

Anita turned to see him sitting a few feet away, his silhouette barely visible against the backdrop of the forest.

“I feel… different,” she admitted. “Like something inside me shifted.”

“It did,” Jace said, his tone matter-of-fact. “The fox bead’s energy fused with you when I saved you. It was the only way to heal you in time.”

Anita’s eyes widened. “Wait, fused? What does that even mean?”

“It means the bead recognizes you now,” Jace explained, his gaze serious. “You’re no longer just its keeper—you’re its host. Its energy is a part of you.”

Anita’s mind raced. The heightened awareness, the strange clarity she’d felt since the fall—it all made sense now. But the realization brought a wave of unease.

“So… what does that mean for me?” she asked hesitantly.

Jace hesitated before answering. “It means you’re more powerful than you were before. But it also means others—those who seek the fox bead’s power—will sense it in you. You’re a target now, Anita.”

Anita swallowed hard, her heart pounding. She hadn’t asked for this, hadn’t wanted to be part of some mystical battle. But there was no turning back now.

“Great,” she muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “As if my life wasn’t complicated enough.”

Jace smirked faintly. “You’re handling it better than most would.”

Anita shot him a look but couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto her face. Despite everything, there was a strange sense of calm settling over her—a feeling that maybe, just maybe, she was stronger than she’d realized.

As the first light of dawn broke over the mountains, Anita stood and stretched, feeling a newfound resolve. She didn’t know what lay ahead, but she was determined to face it head-on.

Because for better or worse, she wasn’t just an ordinary girl anymore. She was the fox bead’s host—and she wasn’t going to let anyone take that away from her.