I actually spent a while brainstorming how to approach the mix in a unique way. I drew up a "reference" while on my trip with Zar'roc. I originally had the idea to draw them prancing in some autumn leaf pile, but I remembered partway that I was commissioned for no background and I was getting carried away -- plus something about the face was looking too scruffy.

I decided a jumping scene would be cute and fun, and a way to show off a big heel pad on the hind legs. But as I made the concept sketch, the face still bothered me for some reason. I changed some things in the final pencil lineart that gave overall softer features, which looks much better in my opinion!

I could have designed a totally unique wolf-bear, but I decided to attempt a fun combination of Independence and Nighty. Starting with the face, I kept the point on the muzzle, but a darker version, taking inspiration from Icey's male design of Indie. Lighter markings under the eyes like Nighty, lighter belly, arms and legs like Independence, but in the scoop shape like Nighty. Dipstick tail like Indie, but shortened tail somewhere between a wolf and a bear in length. And finally I simplified Nighty's salmon stripes into simply three stripes across the back end.

While I was designing the colors in black and white, I didn't have a good vision of the end result, but putting it all together, they look like a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows, or a mocha with whipped cream. Unexpectedly very thematic with my coffee / cafe theme of my stream.

I wasn't sure if this would be a "one-off" character or a recurring one, but they are unexpectedly popular at least in my stream, so I may draw them once in a while for fun. "Mocha" is a fun name but I have a friend named Moka already, so to reduce confusion I should name them something else. I'll think about it!

Also tentatively as far as gender stuff, they will be nonbinary for now. Lets me explore that on a character.