"I'm Komali," He replied, and after a few moments lets his wings fold down, tucking them low around his sides, to expose hands from behind thick feather-cover. One of these, he holds out by way of greeting: shake on it, "It's nice to meet you. I was exploring too-- it's good to get out in the open for once."

There was, if nothing else, a great deal of sky to be had. He waves a hand to indicate it, broad and merciless as it seems from down here on the hot mirror's surface.

"But there isn't much out here: the land is as smooth as a windless sea, for as far as I've looked."