TOTK The Beast and the Princess Complete Side Quest Walkthrough
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom features numerous side adventures that expand the lore of Hyrule while rewarding players with valuable resources. Among these quests is a specific investigation that tasks Link with uncovering rumors surrounding Princess Zelda and an unidentified massive creature. Fulfilling this mission requires traveling across diverse biomes and speaking with specific key characters to uncover the truth.
How to Initiate the Side Adventure
To begin this quest, you must first unlock the broader Potential Princess Sightings line of missions by visiting the Lucky Clover Gazette headquarters. After securing your employment as an investigative reporter, travel directly to the New Serenne Stable located in the Hyrule Ridge region. Look for a large avian journalist named Penn who stands outside the main stable building to receive your instructions.
Speak with Penn to learn about persistent rumors regarding a terrifying giant beast allegedly controlled by the princess herself. He will provide a vague hint pointing toward a subtropical sanctuary located somewhere far to the south of your current location. Once the conversation concludes, the mission will officially be recorded in your adventure log under the side adventures section.
Finding the Subtropical Sanctuary
Your next primary destination is the Lakeside Stable, which sits in the far southern jungle environment of the Faron region. If you have already explored this area, you can easily fast travel to the nearby Jojo-u-u Shrine to save time. From the shrine, use your paraglider to fly across the trees and cross the river toward the stable lights.
If you prefer an alternate approach or lack the fast travel point, follow the main roads heading south of Lake Hylia while carefully avoiding dangerous enemies along the way. Upon arriving at the stable grounds, talk to the local residents to gather clues regarding the nearby animal refuge. An elderly man named Shay will point you toward a distinct cliffside area located directly across a wide gorge.
Reaching the Dondon Paddock
To cross the massive gap between the cliffs, equip a set of Zora Armor to utilize the nearby waterfall or simply glide carefully across the canyon space. On the other side of the gorge, you will discover a unique sanctuary dedicated to a newly discovered species called Dondons. These large, tusked animals are entirely peaceful despite the terrifying rumors spread by travelers throughout Hyrule.
Locate a caretaker named Cima who stands near a small campfire directly inside the paddock boundaries to learn the origin of the rumors. She will explain that Princess Zelda discovered these rare creatures and personally helped look after them before her disappearance. The rumors of a malicious beast arose simply because someone witnessed the princess riding one of these gentle giants around the sanctuary.
Completing the Quest and Claiming Rewards
Immediately after finishing your conversation with Cima, Penn will fly into the sanctuary to verify the breaking news story himself. He will quickly realize that the rumors were highly exaggerated and that the majestic creatures present no threat to the kingdom. Satisfied with the truth, Penn will reward you with a substantial amount of Rupees before flying off to write his next newspaper article.
The exact payout you receive depends entirely on how many other newspaper investigations you have completed throughout your journey. Additionally, keeping these animals fed with luminous stones will cause them to leave valuable gems on the ground over time. Following these precise steps ensures a smooth resolution to this intriguing journalism quest line.