talons

In owls, for example, touch centers that typically correspond to face touch are devoted solely to talons.

Talons rip out of her shoes, horns sprout from her hair, black wings tear through her blouse.

A sharp but necessary pivot from scales and talons brings me to Star Wars’ most adorable animals: Ewoks, the sweet, cherubic creatures that populate the forest moon of Endor in “Return of the Jedi.”

Lady Macbeth hasn’t yet gotten her talons into her husband.

In mute terror he crouched in the crevice while the owl, with grappling talons, tried to fish him out.