Fanart Feature #1!
This morning I got some new fanart in my e-mail from Sporkitude! Thank you so much; it’s been years since I got any reader art and I’m super happy!
She mentioned in her e-mail about not noticing Arra’s strange feet until she had to draw them, so I thought I’d share a little about Great Dragon anatomy: their two middle toes have large, blunt claws used for walking, while the outer two toes have long, razor sharp claws for killing. These killing claws are kept lifted off the ground while walking or sitting so they won’t grow dull, though for comfort’s sake, are extended while laying down. They will sharpen their claws much like cats, by scratching on large trees.
And if you’re wondering why in the prologue neither Arra nor Strake have these funky feet- it’s my own fault for deciding on this design AFTER I had drawn the prologue. So there’s really no excuse for the inconsistency other than I often change my mind about things partway through a project. 😛
That’s a cool tidbit about the feet. It’s like a mix between a cheetah’s front and back claws! *derp*
It also seems like a nice little variation on the velociraptor-type killing claw that the wyverns have. Because retractable claws are hard, says evolution, save it for the kitties 😛
Actually… even though the wyvern were modeled after velociraptors, they don’t have the curved killing claw, just two normally clawed toes on each foot. 😉
Derp. Somehow shivae invaded my brain and said “Killing claws are awesome! Everyone should have one!”
(Or it was a standard brainfart, but whatever. Who’s keeping score? Not me, hehe.)