Disclaimer: I do not own Zoombinis. Also, the title isn't supposed to be an insult to Dementia, it's a canon location within the game.

Taiclee could feel her heart beating in her chest. After seeing so many of her fellow Zoombinis fall when they tried to enter the rooms, she was expecting the floor below her to disappear, and she'd fall to the ground.

Normally, this wouldn't be too bad. She had tried twice, and it didn't hurt for more than a few seconds. But, this time, it was almost night. She wouldn't have enough time to try another room before the hotel closed. And even worse, she was the only one left. She'd have nobody to help her fend off the Fleens as she made it back to the nearest shelter.

She wished Ulla had stayed with them, and help them in, but Taiclee understood the band was waiting too.

Finally, she mustered the courage, and stepped onto the platform. She winced, closing her eyes, in fear it would give out below her. But, it stayed there, and the door opened.

"Woah!" She whispered, as she walked in. Just as soon as she did, before she had a chance to take it in, a loud woosh came from all around. She jumped back, seeing that all the platforms had retracted.

"What did I say?" Said a familiar voice from outside the room. "I knew you could do it! A place for everyone, and everyone in a place. See you all in the morning!"

It took a few seconds, but Taiclee began to feel her stress fade away, or at least as much as it could. She knew they were only halfway there, and there was a long, perilous journey ahead.

As she knew her jitters would keep her awake, she decided to explore the room.

It was a lot bigger than she had expected when she walked in. It was pretty deluxe as well. To the left there was a small kitchen, zoombini-sized, as if her kind were the only ones that stayed here. It was strange, really. Everyone and everything here had been bigger than them, as if they were walking in a world of giants.

There was an oven, a refrigerator, and a microwave. A single counter was topped with a cream-colored marble stone. It was a whole lot better than back in Zoombini Isle, at least since the Bloats arrived. Thinking of them still gave her shivers. Their name… she thought of their name like a swear.

Left in the refrigerator was a single slice of pizza, a granola bar, and a can of soda. Looking over it, Taiclee found a note from the hostess. 'I figured you kids would be hungry, so I got some snacks for you all when I saw you approaching. In the morning, Continental Breakfast will be warm and delicious! Sleep well!' - Ulla

Many people didn't understand that Zoombinis could actually eat or speak. Sure, they didn't have mouths, but they could speak through telepathy, and digest through magic. It was hard to explain, especially when their telepathic speech wasn't always 'picked up' by people, but they could. If Ulla noticed this, she must be some sort of Zoombini expert.

At first, Taiclee was worried about the connotations of Ulla knowing about her species, but then, she instantly remembered how hungry she was. Besides, someone that friendly couldn't be planning anything malicious. She hadn't had anything truly filling since they had left Shelter Rock. Berries and nuts found throughout the forest weren't a good meal.

Even though the pizza brought back memories of the stressful trolls, she enjoyed it. Whoever made it was a master chef. (Or possibly just a pizza machine.)

After she finished the slice, she went to the center of the room. The entry door had been closed, but that was probably a good thing. It was midnight out there, and somewhat cold under the shade of the trees.

Behind her, there were two interior doors. One was labeled 'Bathroom,' and had the usual soaps and stuff you'd find in a hotel bathroom. These soaps smelled of petrichor and pomegranate. The walls were a dusty pastel blue, and the floor was covered in small, ocean-colored tiles. The sink too was made with elegant marble, and the shower was perfectly clean.

She decided to take a shower, finally having a chance to get clean again. The water was warm and steamy, and like with the kitchen, it was much better than back home. The Bloats never let them take showers for more than 10 minutes; she stayed in longer in an act of 'rebellion.' Still, if the one you were rebelling against wasn't there, did it still count?

She pushed the thoughts of the Bloats out of her mind once again. As much as she tried to forget them, as much as she tried to stay strong for her sister, they terrified her. She was secretly so afraid that they would find them, and drag them all the way back to Zoombini Isle. They would make sure they never escaped, forcing them back into slavery, even harsher than before.

As much as it hurt her to leave her home, the place she grew up in, she was happy to be gone. She was finally free! She could finally see her sister again, who had made it to the 'Promised Land' on one of the first few ships. Plus, she got to see amazing places like this.

Thinking of her sister made her smile, at least, it would have, if they had mouths. She was smiling in her mind, at least. Adrua… I'll see you soon.

After her shower, she slipped her shoes and hat on before she investigated the door on the right. This one's label read 'Band Room,' and it had a small window. Looking through, she saw Ulla and her band getting ready to resume. She watched in awe as they began to play, and the music drifted through the hotel. It was just soft and calm enough to be a lullaby.

The song began to make her sleepy. Her eyes drooped down lower than even the Zoombinis who naturally looked like they were about to fall asleep at any moment. As much as she wanted to enter the band room, and listen in closer, she knew she needed her sleep. This may be the last time they'd have a nice place to rest until they reached the promised land. She heard the rooms at Shade Tree were the same as Shelter Rock, with hardly enough room to get comfortable and even lacked doors.

The bedroom section on the right side of the room just looked like an average bedroom, nothing too special, besides maybe the furniture. The bed and the bed stand were both carved out of small, light brown logs, perfectly Zoombini-sized. A forest like the one they had just traveled through was on a painting hanging above the bed, tying the whole room together. The blankets had an intricate wave pattern, with matching pillows fluffed to perfection. A small night light shimmered in the corner.

As soon as Taiclee had gotten in bed, the lights around her faded, leaving the night light the only thing brightening up the room. Between the warmth of the room, the beautiful melody playing outside her room, and just the general exhaustion from the journey, she found herself falling asleep in just a matter of minutes.