The heroic pair brave the flames and sprint off into the smoke. Laurel's eyes are blinded by the heavy grey fog as he coughs violently. "Over there!"
His finger points to a wild orange flame enveloping a tree, with a stray horse standing beside it. Aurarius investigates, and the fog clears to reveal a man lying on the ground.
"Hello?" the man calls helplessly. "Is anybody there?"
Laurel recognises him as the plump jockey at the starting line. He slumps with his back against the tree and a large branch on his leg. His horse is a grey pony which stands tall over him, looking solemn.
Thank goodness you came. she says anxiously. My master fell and his leg became trapped under a branch. I don't think he can walk.
"Leave it to me." Laurel dismounts his steed and draws his sword. He hacks away at the branch until it saws in half. With all his might, he heaves it aside, freeing the rider from its agonising weight.
"Thank you...Gold Knight..." the man croaks, and struggles to his feet. He winces in pain, and Laurel rushes to catch him from falling.
Put him on my back. the pony orders. I can carry him out.
Laurel bears the burden of the wounded rider on his shoulders and carefully positions him on the back of his steed.
Now follow me. I know the way out.
Laurel mounts Aurarius once more and they follow their new guide through the scorched undergrowth.
Bang. A tremendous explosion deafens their ears. The sky clouds over like an eclipse as the smoke rises from the mountaintop, blotting out the sunlight. Flakes of ash began to rain down on them. A volcanic eruption.
Laurel's hearing eventually returns, but he is now blind in the darkness. Without the sun, they will never find north, and never escape from the blazing forest.
"Hello?" Laurel calls out in desperation. His throat is dry and the ash is seeping into his lungs. Yet the fog yields no reply.
I think I can see tracks... Aurarius coughs with his snout to the ground.
He follows the trail through the smoke. Their eyes sting as their lungs ache, but the further they progress, the more the cloud thins out and their vision becomes clearer. Before long, they found themselves ascending a gentle slope beneath untouched trees. The temperature quickly plummets as the rain of ash turns to snow.
They emerge a different mountain, much colder than Goron Caverns. Laurel glances down at his once dazzling-white steed, now a smoke-stained grey. His own golden garments are cloaked in a thick layer of ash.
The outline of a building appears on the canvas of snow: a ray of hope. Exhausted and sick, Aurarius crawls towards the inviting light of the windows.
"You did it, Aurarius." Laurel mumbles through his frozen lips. "You saved a stranger's life and successfully got us out of a tricky situation. I'm proud of you."