It had been three days since Ruby had moved into Jadedal.

Ruby threw another knife that impaled the opposite wall. She groaned as she stepped out of her kitchen and looked to see if someone had entered the restaurant.

No one had.

She kicked a chair that stood by one of the four tables in the room. She was frustrated, but mostly she was surprised that she had been optimistic at all when she bought the place with her hard earned savings. Moving to a smaller town had not helped at all.

Her savings, as well as her dad’s savings, had been wasted for nothing.

She had gone to the city square to do some shopping. The only good thing to say about Jadedale was that people at least just gave her looks of dismay instead of downright bothering her. Bottom line was that no one wanted to associate with her unless she actually talked to them, and they would keep it short, at least trying to appear polite.

“I’m moving to the ocean to live with my folks...” The young gorgon made a sigh of defeat as she sat on the floor and felt helpless.

***

“Feast your eyes, ladies. It’s vegetarian night!”

“BOO!”

Ivan's smile went from one horn to the other as he placed the pot with spicy carrot soup on the dinner table while Dimi and Aura shoved their disapproval by making thumbs down gestures.

Ivan shook his head. “Don’t you boo at this soup. It is my grandpa’s recipe. The food of gods I tell you!”

“What kind of god, a rabbit one?” Dimi smirked as she poured soup in her bowl.

“Ivan, I want meat tomorrow, you hear me?” Aura sipped the soup from her spoon. “You can eat all the vegetables you like, but I want MEAT when we go out to celebrate our anniversary.”

“Oh, that’s right!” Ivan placed his spoon in the bowl. “We still haven’t agreed on where to go. There are plenty of places we could eat in Onyxville.”

Aura made an awkward smile. “Except for Pie House.”

“Oh, ABSOLUTELY NOT the Pie House. Never setting my foot inside that place again.” Ivan made an awkward laugh.

As Dimi had finished her soup, she realized something. “Hey, I have an idea for where we could go.”

“Sure, we are open for suggestions.” Ivan smiled at Aura as he poured more soup up for himself. “Right, honey?”

“I think Dimi very much has a say here.” Aura grinned, revealing her sharp teeth.

“Well...” Dimi coughed. “We don’t have to go to Onyxville. We have a place where you can buy food now in Jadedale. Ruby’s. Also, save coronets on a ride, so that’s also great.”

Ivan and Aura seized smiling right away. Ivan looked as if he was about to choke on the soup. Aura looked worried at Ivan.

“Ah... Ruby’s?” Ivan began to blink nervously. “That’s right, I forgot that we... have a new creature in town.”

“Yeah, she is great. And I had her cooking before, we should totally go there tomorrow.”

Ivan bit his lower lip. “Dimi, I’m not sure I would be... comfortable about that.”

Aura slapped her forehead as she mimed the word No with her lips.

Dimi raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ivan realized he had messed up. “Um, it means that... I just think we should go to a place we are familiar with since we rarely go out that often.”

Aura slapped her forehead three times more.

“... I don’t believe it.” Dimi stood up and pointed a very accusing finger at her godfather. “You are just as bad as everyone else!”

Ivan blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You know exactly what I mean!” Dimi slammed a fist on the table. “I always loved how everyone in this little town got along despite the many diverse species. But now I realize it is because all the good species lived here. As soon as this nice girl moves into our supposedly very welcoming community, eeeeeeveryone gives her the cold shoulder because she just so happens to have scales!”

“Dimi, be fair now.” Ivan tried to use his I’m-older-thus-smarter voice when he wanted Dimi to accept something he was about to explain. “I don’t know your new friend, but have you considered that maybe there is a reason why people don’t... trust that kind of creature?”

Aura sighed as she rolled her eyes.

Dimi gave Ivan a glare that could set a house on fire. “Suuure. I bet there are plenty of good reasons why no one likes gorgons. Hey, I bet there are good reasons why people think minotaurs eat babies!”

Ivan looked shocked at the human princess, then looked at his wife for backup.

“Don’t you look at me for backup.” Aura waved a clawed finger. “The kid has a point.”

Ivan stood up and looked at the girl with anger in his eyes. “Dimi, that was uncalled for. That was not fair.”

“You are right, Ivan. It is so not fair. It is not fair when people talk smack about you behind your back in Onyxville. And it is NOT fair that people assume Ruby is trouble when she has only been here for less than a week and done nothing wrong. It’s not fair that no one gives Ruby a chance.”

Ivan opened his mouth. Then he didn’t say anything since he was unsure what to say. He closed his mouth so he wouldn’t look stupid. He lifted a finger, then lowered it.

“Ahem.” Dimi and Ivan turned their attention toward the sphinx woman. “If anyone would like to know what I think, then I think going to Ruby’s sounds like a good idea. We get a nice meal as well as supporting the local economy.”

Ivan looked at his wife. Then at his protégé. He sighed as he sat down. “She... She serves vegetarian food, right?”

***

Ruby stared at the still closed door as she threw a second knife at it.

“Move to the countryside, he said!” Ruby sneered as she took aim. “Creatures will be more welcoming in a smaller town, they said! Start fresh!” Her snakes all hissed in anger along with the teen as she impaled the door with her knife. “Bunch of ignorant, self-righteous, ass-scratching HICKS!”

Ruby was about to throw another kitchen knife... and almost had a heart attack as the door was opened.

A minotaur looked terrified at the knife in Dimi’s hand. He gulped as he raised his hands above his horned head. He looked at the young gorgon who blushed and looked very embarrassed.

“Oh, NONONONO!” Ruby bit her lower lip as she smiled. “I wasn’t... It’s a cook thing!”

“Hello...” Ivan smiled awkwardly at the snake girl. “Do you have a table for a party of three?”

“Sure.” Ruby looked at the empty chairs. “I can squeeze you in.”

“Name is Ivan, I’m the local blacksmith.” Ivan stepped inside. He was dressed in a green jacket. He looked at the knife attached to the door before returning his attention toward his host. “I’m here with my wife and my goddaughter that I believe you know?”

A lion-bird-woman stepped inside along with Dimi. Both of them were in dresses that weren’t expensive but looked nice.

“I’m Aura.” The sphinx made a warm smile as she grabbed Ruby’s hand and shook it firmly. “I heard your ragoo should be divine!”

Ruby laughed timidly. “Oh, you won’t be disappointed, madam. I promise you that.”

“Madam?!” Aura laughed. “Dimi, I like her!”

Ruby pulled herself free from the handshake as she looked at the bull-man. “And I hear you are a vegetarian, sir?”

Ivan wanted to kick himself. This gorgon was a nice young lady. “Yes, you have any soups or salads?”

“Oh, I have something much better.” Ruby looked very pleased. “Ever tried ratatouille?”

Ivan looked baffled. “Rattoo what?”

Ruby chuckled. “Give me a few minutes and you are gonna have a new favorite dish, sir.” Ruby looked at Dimi. “And ragout for you?”

“Absolutely!” Dimi sent Ruby a big grin.

“Alright, give me a few minutes and... oh. right.” Ruby went to the front door and pulled the knives free. “Gonna need these...”

Dimi resisted the urge to giggle as Ruby went to the kitchen. She immediately lost the want to laugh as her front door was opened once again and two dwarfs entered the establishment.

“Come now.” Amethyst’s mother Agate gently pushed her daughter toward the table where Dimi and her family sat. “Go on.”

Amethyst sighed as she walked toward the table, not looking Dimi in the eyes. Dimi however stared at the teen dwarf.

“Dimi...” Amethyst groaned. “I had a long talk with my mom... and she pointed out that maybe I should know the difference between facts and fear mongering. Also, that I was just being rude. And...” Amethyst looked up and stared Dimi directly in the eyes. “I’m sorry. I was a jerk.”

“Am, I’m sorry I made fun of your beard.” Dimi stood up from the table. “But I’m not the one you have to apologize to.”

Amethyst looked like she wanted to shrink into nothingness. “Do I have to?”

Dimi nodded. “I’m not saying you have to like her, but she is my friend and you insulted her.”

Dimi offered Amethyst a hand that the dwarf girl reluctantly accepted as she walked toward the kitchen.

“Ivan...” Aura decided this was a good moment to talk with Ivan about why he had had issues coming in the first place. “I know you didn’t want to come here because you kept thinking about Veronica when you heard about Ruby.”

“Oh, please.” Ivan shook his head. “I was being stupid, I realize this now. Ruby and other gorgons can’t be held responsible for the actions of one woman.”

“I didn’t want to say anything.”

“Well, I’m glad Dimi did.” Ivan sniffed. “Hey, I think I can smell eggplants!”

***

Old man Sunmut the Satyr and Greg the Goblin looked at the restaurant from a distance.

“This would never have happened back in my day.” The old goat man looked at the little building with a judging look. “Here I thought Ivan was a smart lad.”

“Yeah, and the dwarf family too?” Greg sighed. “Some people have no standards.”

“I’m telling you, they will all walk out of that door as stone.”

“Hear ya, hear ya...” Greg tilted his head. "Wait, stone can't walk."

"Well, no. But still."

The two creatures said nothing for a while.

“... smells kinda good, though.” Greg gave Sunmut a look.

“Yep...”

The satyr and the goblin exchanged glares.

“Ah, to heck with it!” Sunmut tightened his grip around his cane. “I’m old, it’s too late for me to fear death. I’m going in!”

“So am I, I’m starved.”