When they finally reached the top of the slope, they found Sarah, Liam, and Emily waiting anxiously, their faces pale with worry. The moment they saw Anita and Jace, they rushed over, bombarding them with questions."What happened?" Sarah asked, her voice laced with panic. "We saw you fall, and then you just disappeared!""Are you both okay?" Liam added, his usual joking demeanor replaced by genuine concern.Anita nodded, still supporting Jace as they walked back toward the path. "We're okay now, thanks to Jace. He saved me."Emily noticed the strain on Jace's face and the way he leaned heavily on Anita. "What did you do, Jace? You look exhausted."Jace managed a small smile, though he was clearly struggling to stay on his feet. "I used my fox bead to protect Anita during the fall. It's a powerful artifact that holds my life force, and without it, I'm... weakened."Anita's friends exchanged worried glances, their concern deepening. They had known something was unusual about Jace from the moment he had entered their lives, but hearing about the fox bead and its connection to him made the reality of his mystical origins hit home in a new way."You're telling us that you gave Anita your life force?" Liam asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and awe. "That's... that's incredible."Sarah nodded, her eyes wide with understanding. "And dangerous. Jace, if you don't have your fox bead, what happens to you?"Jace leaned more heavily on Anita, his strength fading as he answered. "I become vulnerable. The bead's power sustains me, keeps me strong. Without it, I won't die, but I won't be at full strength until it's returned to me."Emily, ever the practical one, asked the question that was on everyone's mind. "So how do we get it back to you? Does Anita just... give it back?"Anita looked down at the spot where the fox bead had disappeared into her hand, feeling its residual warmth and power within her. "I don't know how it works," she admitted, her voice tinged with anxiety. "I can feel it inside me, but I don't know how to give it back."Jace shook his head, his expression serious. "It doesn't work like that. The fox bead can only be returned when the time is right—when it's fulfilled its purpose. Until then, it will remain with Anita.""Then we'll just have to make sure Jace stays safe until that happens," Sarah said firmly, stepping forward to offer her support. "You're part of our group now, Jace, and we're not going to let anything happen to you."Liam nodded in agreement, his usual sarcasm replaced by sincerity. "Yeah, you're stuck with us, fox spirit or not."Emily, too, gave a determined nod. "We'll figure this out together. We've dealt with stranger things already, right?"Jace smiled, touched by their unwavering loyalty and support. Despite the danger he had inadvertently brought into their lives, these friends were willing to stand by him. It was something he hadn't experienced in centuries, and it filled him with a deep sense of gratitude."Thank you," Jace said, his voice soft but heartfelt. "I don't deserve your kindness, but I appreciate it more than I can say."Anita squeezed his hand, her eyes shining with resolve. "You're our friend, Jace. We're in this together, no matter what."With that, the group carefully made their way back to the trail, their pace slower now as they helped Jace navigate the rough terrain. The mountain hike that had started as a carefree adventure had turned into something far more significant—a test of trust, friendship, and the mysterious bond that now connected them all.As they reached the main path, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the landscape. The golden light bathed the mountains in a warm glow, a stark contrast to the uncertainty that now loomed over their group. But despite the challenges ahead, Anita felt a renewed sense of purpose. She had been entrusted with something precious, something that connected her to Jace in ways she was only beginning to understand.And no matter what the future held, she knew one thing for certain: she would protect that bond with everything she had.