As the sun reaches its peak, Aurarius trots giddily through the grass. Despite travelling almost non-stop for hours, he cannot help but use his voice to brag about Laurel's daring endeavours and powerfully persuasive speeches.
Did you hear those hyenas? They called you 'King of the Beasts'! And those flamingos? They weren't expecting that! Even those cheetahs were blown away by your words… You really have a way with animals Laurel. I'm proud to call you my friend.
Laurel smiles with content as he rubs Aurarius's mane with affection. Suddenly, a glint of sunlight catches his eye. He pulls on the reigns to stop his steed in his tracks.
What is it Laurel? What can you see?
Laurel narrows his gaze on the glinting in the grass. Gold? Jewellery? He shield his eyes from the dazzling sun and his eyesight adjusts until the object becomes clear.
"It can't be…"
Golden feathers, bright yellow eyes; the legendary Golden Cucco. This wasn't the first time he'd encountered such a phenomenon. Two years ago, in the depths of the Golden Forest, the creature had visited him in the middle of the night, spouting nonsensical riddles. After embarking on a chase through the forest, the Golden Cucco guided him to a stream which led them straight to the town of Anther, and thus aided their quest.
Now, the Cucco cranes its neck to examine the pair of bemused rangers. It squawks wildly and runs off in the opposite direction.
"After it!" Laurel orders.
Aurarius moves into a gallop, pursuing the crazy creature as it sings its impish rhymes:
Little Golden Cucco waiting to be found!
Down came the ranger and chased the Cucco out!
It hops over rocks and dives into the grass until it arrives at the very edge of Zone D. A mesh fence towers over it, guarded by a tree. The Cucco stops in in tracks beneath the tree. Laurel and Aurarius close in.
Watch out for hunters climbing up the fence!
Little Golden Cucco gets away again!
The Cucco scurries up the trunk and into the treetop. Laurel watches in astonishment as it runs across the branch which hangs over the fence and leaps off into the desert.
What on earth was that about? Aurarius asks, bewildered.
"I think…I think it was trying to tell us something…" Laurel says uncertainly.
His eyes follow the branch of the tree. It protrudes across the fence beyond the border of Zone D, into the desert. The Golden Cucco proved how easy it was to climb the tree and escape…but how easy was it to get in? There's no way a human being could leap up into the tree without assistance. They would require the gift of flight or something similar…
A Hookshot! The Gerudo poachers were using Hookshots to pull themselves over the fence! That's how they managed to infiltrate Zinzuri and pass the patrol officers undetected!
What is it, Laurel? Why do you look like you've just discovered a red Rupee in the grass?
"Hookshots, Aurarius! The Gerudo use Hookshots! We need to get back to the Commander's lodge and convey this information to the others immediately!"
He grasps the reigns and the pair of them race through the grass back to Zone C, armed with the information that could save every living creature in Zinzuri.
