As the remainder of the Direwolf assault team neared the peakes of the barren mountains, the hidden sentries came out from their burrows along the cliffs. Anyone trying to come up into the area without permission was in for a nasty surprise. The sentries allowed their kin to enter and returned to their scent-disguised hidey-holes allowing Hogan to lead the pack and their haul.<br/><br/>Ruegar sat deep within the ancient cave network, perched in a cavern a mile or so through the twists and turns of the labyrinthine complex. Sentries prowled the halls and with the disorienting nature of the mine's shafts it was as deadly to run blindly through the network as it was to run into one of the naturally aggressive Guardwolves. Ruegar truly was a BattleApha, training in war and a gifted General in the theater of it, Which is why he had chosen this spot for his base of operations. Soon he would conquer the surrounding packs and bend them under his rule, and then the reign of the DireWolf empire would begin anew.<br/><br/>The brigade returned, dropping the unconscious bodies of the females onto the floor of the Cavern in front of their Alpha; Rose included.  Then from the rear of the pack, Hogan brought forth the heartless body of Wendell the former beta of Ruegar's pack.<br/><br/>"We slayed the mutant stray that committed this act, I can assure you Wendell died fighting...." Hogan said as he laid Wendell's corpse down in front of the drooling, whining pack of warrior wolves.<br/><br/>"Hogan, you are now Beta...You have brought back supplies and good females for us to start the pack's new concubine. You serve Your Alpha well , Don't let me down!"  Ruegar commend his new second in command and then the females were removed and placed in a secured lower chamber of the mine.<br/><br/>Ruegar stared at the drooling masses of his pack and saw the fierce hunger in their eyes as they circled Wendell fallen form. "Eat Warriors.....Eat!" He commanded and his pack tore into their former Beta's body, consuming it wholly.