Bear was in one of the first boats to land on the muddy shingle that served for a beach in front of the cave. At Rôg’s request, though the day’s light was coming on, he lit a small covered lantern and made his way to the cave entrance. ‘We’ll go in first, he said, a sweeping gesture of his hand taking in Rôg, who stood next to him. ‘Rôg will take a little look-see to scout out any immediate dangers in the main cavern while I see what I can from just inside the entrance with my light.’
With a shrug, Rôg’s form became smaller until only a small brown, furred thing, less than four inches long, lay on top the mud at Bear’s feet. There were gasps as the small animal, a little
brown bat , flew up; and dipping one wing to Bear, flew quickly in to the small cave entrance. Bear followed, his lantern hanging from his belt, as he crawled through the small opening and into the small tunnel.
It was only a few short feet to the interior where the tunnel opened up into a large cavern. It was tall enough for the Lossoth to move about in, but barely, and there were other tunnels leading off it to smaller caverns still. Bear opened the hood to the lantern and cast the light about in the darkness. The water had retreated from the cave with the tide, leaving the silted rock floor slippery with the remaining damp. The Elves and Lossoth would need to be careful of there footing as they walked along. There would be plenty of chances to slip and injure oneself on the rough edged rocks that had tumbled from the cavern’s ceiling.
From where he stood near the main cavern’s entrance he could see numerous little openings to the other small caverns that honeycombed along this section of the Bay. He watched as Rôg flew rapidly toward the openings and darted in and out of them, checking that they were open. After a fair space of time, the little bat returned to the main cavern, and flew out the exit to where the others of the group waited. Bear followed. Changing back to his mannish form, both Rôg and Bear gave a brief report on what they’d seen. Of the thirteen tunnels he had flown into, four were blocked by fallen rock and built up, hardened silt. The others opened into small caverns that tilted downward from the main cavern – in some rocks partially blocked the way, but could be squeezed by. And there would be a need to be out of there before the tide came in fully – as these caverns were most likely completely submerged at high tide. Bear nodded his head in agreement, saying the waterline in the main cavern was nearly to the top of it, and that would mean that the tunnel into it would be completely filled with water when the tide came up.
The Men and Elves listened closely to the two scouts. Then, securing their torches and flints boxes in their belts, they tied their ropes about their waists and went in toward the darkness, taking care to stay close to their companions in the search.