Cavern wings

Cavern wings are large, intelligent bats found predominantly in Moria, although they have been reported in other caverns in the Misty Mountains. They seem to have a very sophisticated "biting order," culminating in a leader, a phenomenon not observed in any other bat species. This leader directs the other bats in their group hunts, indicating which potential victims to ignore, which to attack. The cavern wings' weapon is their razor sharp claws, with which they rip their victims into bite-sized shreds. Their voices are low-pitched for bats, allowing most of their victims to have some warning of their approach — although this rarely helps, as the cavern wings are very quick and extremely maneuverable. These bats have dark gray to black fur, often speckled in younger cavern wings.

The best defense is the ability to pick out the leader, for if that bat is slain, the rest will retreat until the flock sorts itself out and chooses a new leader. Detailed Description

3Bats compose a huge portion of Moria's inhabitants. Generally, they are small, harmless herbivores; but a few, notably the fierce cavern wings, pose an active threat. Masters of the open darkness, they live in black spaces where light rarely intrudes. There, they sleep in peaceful isolation, hanging from rooftop clefts on hooked claws until the daily call for the hunt is passed along the line.

Cavern wings gather in groups of two to a hundred and are organized under a single dominant leader. When he awakes, the other bats stir to follow him; when he signals an attack, they pounce with fury. Then they descend in a swirling pattern and capture or tear at their victim with razor-sharp talons. Large prey is downed in a series of attack waves that recur so quickly as to seem continuous. A Dwarf-lord once described their assault as a "twisted cloud of knives."

Individually, the cavern wing is not so formidable, although they are considerably larger than other bats. Their one to two foot wingspans restrict movements, but they are nimble, given their size. They are fearless and trust in the art of ambush to offset their lack of bulk.

Young cavern wings are grey, with darker speckling on their undersides, while mature adults are often black. Each set of their four elongated fingers support their dull black wings, flight membranes which stretch back and attach to the ankle just above a wicked five toed claw. Large ears floppy ears give them a dismaying appearance, although they are virtually invisible when shadowed. Since they frequently glide and flap their wings efficiently, they are usually betrayed by the piercing cries they use to locate objects. Naturally, any warning is important, for these ferocious carnivores feed on any meat they can find; rodents, insects, fish, or even man-sized morsels. The best defense against the cavern wings requires a good ear, a strong position, and a careful target selection: one lucky strike which claims their leader will send the others home. Nam I once wrote: "We whirled at the sound,

And Grorin grabbed his Horn.

With Shields held high above,

My Guard circled round Me.

Like Mist, the Bats came, but Dot let an arrow fly,

And felled their black Lead.

So off the Dark Wings flew, to choose another Master,

And strike some later Day."