The hawk's screech rose to a frenzied pitch, its head jerking wildly, and with a final, violent heave it tore itself free of the crystal trap, feathers and blood scattering as it ripped loose and erupted upward into the sky. Honeybun lunged for one more strike but the hawk was already climbing, beyond his reach, retreating into the air where the turtle couldn't follow.
It fled, half-blind and heavily injured, its wings tattered, blood raining down as it beat a desperate retreat into the gloom.
Moon let out a low whistle, watching the hawk vanish into the sky.
But Honeybun had other plans. Watching the predator fly away was clearly not on the turtle's agenda.
His aura swelled massively, climbing higher than Moon had seen it reach in any of the day's fights, and crystal began to spread across his entire body, a complete, gleaming suit of crystal armor encased him from shell to claws.
