The weeks passed quickly for Storm and the other denizens of the city.
As the original Maker's Challenge event had been so rudely interrupted by the Order's attack and many of the contestant's inventions had been damaged during the raid.
They decided to reschedule the event in order to give it's contestants time to repair their exhibits.
Currently the event was scheduled to resume on the first day of summer a few months from now.
His people immediately used the new information they had acquired about the Order to track them and soon Storm began to send out agents to sabotage these important lifelines.
Despite this, they still had no idea where that fortress ship had dissappeared to and were no closer than before to tracking it down.
In order to ensure that their enemies couldn't sneak up on them again, several additional defensive measures were taken.
They found that during the fighting the Sky Quarter was cut off from the underground portion of the city and that it was difficult to reach during the attack.
So, working closely with Razor, a network of tunnels were dug through the mountain which led directly to the underground portion of the city.
To ensure enemies couldn't use them to circumvent their fortifications, additional tunnels that led to dead ends or positions that could easily be sealed off were made in order to make it practically impossible for invaders to use.
The entrance to the staircase that led to the Sky Quarter dug through the upper wall and roof of the caverns that housed the city and a large plaza was built at the entryway.
This plaza was connected to the city below with a large freight elevator and as the Plaza had an unobstructed, breathtaking view of the city, it soon became a popular attraction and gathering spot.
It didn't take long before dwarves started expanding the plaza with additional platforms and walkways built along the walls and soon an entire new and highly popular Quarter of the city sprang into being.
Complete with housing, shops and other services. Because of it's demand, and prestigious location, rent or prices were high and only the most influential members of the city were able to afford them.
Storm currently stood at the site that originally housed the Ziggurat where Mortis was imprisoned. This spot was at one point the very heart of the city and all roads led to it.
A big empty pit in the center of the city wasn't exactly a good image, so when everyone first moved to the city, he ordered that the pit be refilled so that something else could be built on the site.
It was a project that took months and now that it was finally finished, he actually had no idea what to do with the space.
Grombrim suggested that as the site was originally the personal residence of the ruler, that Storm should construct a palace or hall for his family to stay in. A suggestion that Storm quickly rejected.
He didn't want to seem like a vain king or ruler that considers himself better than his subjects.
Kalipso suggested a park or other beauty spot where people could gather and mingle but Storm thought it would just be a waste of good space as there were already plenty such spots scattered around the city.
Razor suggested a memorial for the fallen, but Storm considered that to be a poor image for the heart of the city.
There were plenty such sites already and he thought it would make the city too grim and depressing. The city already had a grim past and he wanted to change that.
Augustus suggested a market of some kind but there were more than enough of those already and he didn't believe it would fit with how he envisioned the city.
He hadn't built the place to get rich like many other city rulers and so didn't want the city's heart to reflect that.
"Why am I doing this? When I first claimed this place, what was my motive for doing so?" Thought Storm.
An answer didn't immediately jump out to him, so he decided to leave the problem for another time and started to make his way back home.
In the time since the attack, he had finally gotten around to expanding his family's residence.
Although he had briefly considered moving his residence to the new 'upper quarter' of the city, he quickly changed his mind when he considered how close to an entryway it was.
Ever since he lost his clan, Storm had the morbid fear of losing family members again. That fear often dictated his actions, such as coddling his children or his mate and trying to keep them away from fighting, until they talked with him and he begrudging gave his consent.
If enemies used that entryway to invade the city, his home could easily be reached. If they done so during the attack on the city for example, his as of yet unhatched daughter would have been in danger.
And so the idea was rejected in favor of a large cave system with multiple rooms and spaces for his family members located at the back of the city that was even bigger than the cave system where he was raised.
Today was a special day as the last of the renovations had finally been completed and everything had been moved over to their new home. Including his daughter's egg chamber.
Ironically it also happens to be the first year anniversary of the day Orian had first hatched and Aurora insisted on celebrating the day despite Orian's objections.
So both events were being celebrated simultaneously and what was supposed to be a small celebration with friends and family quickly grew to a massive gathering .
All of his advisors were in attendance, as well as Pyros and his family, Storm's siblings, as well as the many friends of his family members.
Storm had asked Celestial to send an invitation to Leyocan as well through her contacts, but had received no reply from his old friend.
Orian invited Lavander and Quicksilver's families, but only Quicksilver's griffin family was able to make the event.
Lavander sent an apology on behalf of her mother saying that she was unable to make the time to attend and so Lavender came alone.
Xenia and Quill attended at Chrome's invitation and almost never left his side.
There was a brief tense moment between Xenia and Aurora when news of the engagement reached Aurora's ears.
She considered Xenia as something of a predator that was preying on her 'innocent son' and was leading him astray.
But after seeing how happy the two were together, Aurora relented and began to warm up to Xenia.
The two mates often met up in the city now and hanged out while discussing their families together.
Storm stood in front of the lavish entrance to his abode as he tried to steel himself for what was no doubt going to be a 'trying' evening.