Ahe's brush moved quickly: a rounded head, a body curving out and back, then a fine tail. He lifted the brush while the ink was still shining.

“Finished!” He looked from the model to his picture and nodded proudly. A curved body, no feet: at this moment, his drawing met the task.

Tao was still working on her tail, pausing to look at the model. Ahe waited, his fingers touching the brush handle. Surely, he thought, there was room to add something more.