So you're gonna draw Talon?
If you're here, that means you're likely here for one of two reasons. I've commissioned you to draw this character and I've provided you the link.
Or
You've nabbed the link from some art exchange game. Either way, you're likely here because you want more information on how to draw this character that can be rather complicated at first glance.
The References
Human Form
Description: Tall and somewhat broad build, similar to that of a gymnast. Light skin with a yellow/olive undertone; there is a slight tinting pattern to her skin that is similar to her patterning in her Mid-Shift and Ertakar forms. Her hair is brown with a subtle wave to it that can be more porominant when shorter. Her eye color is something close to Indigo or royal purple eyes and her pupils dilate similar to a cat's.
Notes: The tinting to her skin isn't necessarily required! For sketches, quick and simple colored pieces, using the mid tone color from the flesh color gradiant as a single solid color is perfectly fine! Unless she's doing something to cover up her scar, she doesn't usually wear makeup unless she's dressing up for something. If she does, she prefers more neutral makeup.
Mid-shift (True) Form
(This is Talon's favored form and the one she was born in. )
Description: In this form she maintains her hair and much of her human face shape with a subtle sloped muzzle, though bears a smaller version of her Ertakar form's 6 pointed head crest and center horn. Her coloration maintains that of her Ertakar's form, though her hide is not as thick or protective.
Notes: The microstripes are not always required! If it doesn't work for the style or detail level of the image, you may omit the striping and just use the gradiation. Additionally, in even more simplified art pieces, you are welcome to reduce the coloration to a single solid color.
Ertakar Form
Description: still considered a runt for her species, with grey, thick hide that bares an almost silverish sheen. Her back, along with the tops of her limbs have a faded, darker gray, that fades in thin, almost brindle-like striping into her primary silverish color. A 6 horned head crest and a center horn is prominent on her head, in place of any hair.
Notes: Like with the Mid-shift form, microstripes are not always required. If it doesn't work for the style or detail level of the image, you may omit the striping and just use the gradiation. Additionally, in even more simplified art pieces, you are welcome to reduce the coloration to a single solid color. There is a lithe element to her form, you're welcome to accentuate on this lanky-ness.
Extra Bits
You do not need to strictly adhere to the given pallet! Color tone, temperature, contrast and so on can all be adjusted as needed to your style/tone of the piece. As long as the character still reads as having some type of grey and/or fair skin, purple eyes, and brown hair, that's all that matters to me.
Talon's scar is a deep scar, from a solid piece of metal that her head was slammed into, it is not a mere surface scar. This means there are subtle dents in the brow and cheekbone as the bone there was deeply cut. This image provides a rough diagram. The image on the left portrays genral depth, image on the right portrays the angle her head hit the metal. (but not the depth). This means she has to use not only makeup, but a fill, to even out the scar site if she wants to mask it. It wouldn't be noticable in regular interaction but there would be irregularities close up. She is likely only do this only if she is in a situation where she's not recognized on sight or is otherwise undercover.
If you need any real life examples of what I'm going for with Talon's build, Jessie Graff is a good example of the build I'm going for.
Some personality notes to get some ideas for tone or expression. Her usual state is Poised, Controlled, Assertive but reserved with a bit of subtle coy humor. Keeping control of her emotional state is something she considers very important so it's rare to see it slip, where being worn or tired start to show through. She does have a playful or otherwise mischievous element but she also tends to keep that in reserve though it shines through in the right circumstance. Either when she's alone or around those she's comfortable with; also in competetive settings.
In combat under situations of extreme stress or high levels of injury, one of two things can happen. She can either slip into a total fugue state, a berserker state, brutal and lethal to anyone and anything around her with little regard for who gets in her way and sometimes even her own state. Or, she can loose herself in another way, another identity that is brutal but calculating and sadistic who's reasoning can betray the code of ethics Talon herself tries to uphold.
Style Guide

Talon doesn't have a fixed wardrobe save for the one armor set I have drawn her in. For this reason there's a lot of flexibility in the type of attire you can draw her in. Due to both having wings and a tail, she wears a lot of layered or otherwise modular clothing. The image on the right depicts her usual items of clothing present in both her Human and Mid-shift forms.
Prefers clothes that are flexible, comfortable, and practical. Typical attire consists of sleeveless shirts, tank tops, and high collar blouses for tops. Leggings, jeans, cargo pants or capris for bottoms. Some of the jeans or cargos she wears will have a zip-off section at the knee to accomodate for her Mid-shift legs. Due to her unique circumstances being one of the few living shape-shifters, everything she wears is personally tailored, either by someone else or herself to accomodate her needs.
She's more sensitive to the cold so she often wears crop jackets or boleros. Boleros are particularlly important if she suspects she will shift between human/midshift forms. Other additions include fingerless gloves and thigh bags. Many of her thigh bags do not have a waist band, so that they can still be worn in her full Ertakar form.
While her Human and Mid-shift form can wear a lot of attire between the two, her full Ertakar form is much more restrictive. In that form she may wear a bolero, gloves, feet-guards, thigh bags, and possibly leg-guards. Image of some examples of this. Her wing membrane starts at the top of the shoulders and extends all the way down past the base of her tail, leaving very few wrap-around options.
Colors - Mostly cool spectrum, greens more on the blue side such as teal, aqua, mint, spruce. Also wears purples. Might wear reds as a statement. Otherwise wears a lot of earth tones, in addition to classic black, white, and neutrals. That side, she does venture into other color spectrums for style and variety so don't be afraid to use a different range of colors. Though not anything especially loud or clashing.
Style - Pragmatic but stylish. Angular and geometic shapes, may play around with asymmetrical looks. Also fond of art-deco elements, and 'modern' aesthetic similar to some of the 'modern' looking trends of the 2000's. Not fond of bold patterns, prefers subtle geometric patterns, and attention to detail. (Her look in SecondLife)
Hairstyle - Though I may typically default to pony tails and braids, her range of hairstyles can vary greatly both in styling and length but she always keeps the fringe, be it short or long. Her Hair has a natural volume and wave to it that becomes more apparent at short lengths. She will pull her hair back if she is active, but for formal occassions she will leave it long and will often try to enhance it's natural volume.