Dondon
Special | Consume Luminous Stones and convert them into gems and flint | |
Number | 26 | |
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Location | ||
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Dondons are a type of animal from Tears of the Kingdom.
Tears of the Kingdom
Dondons are a race of large, non-aggressive animals. The only known examples are a group of five who were recently discovered by Zelda in Bronas Forest, and are watched over by Cima.[1] Their systems are odd - they consume luminous stone, causing their horns and spines to glow at night, and excrete flint and gems. If Link feeds them luminous stone, leaves, and comes back some time later, he will find the result lying on the ground where the Dondon was. The more luminous stones he feeds to one animal at a time, the greater likelihood that high-value gems such as Ruby, Sapphire or Diamond will be the result.[2]
The Dondons seem to have been infatuated by Princess Zelda. Whenever she was around, the Dondons would follow her around like little ducklings.[3]
Weather conditions in the area don't seem to have any effect on the Dondon. Even when there is thunder and lightning outside, the Dondons don't even flinch.[4]
The Beast and the Princess
- Main article: The Beast and the Princess
Sketches of them are posted in numerous stables around Hyrule. Penn gets "chirps and warbles" from a group of small birds at New Serenne Stable about Princess Zelda riding a "mountain of a beast...with huge, brutal tusks" in "the subtropical region in the south", beginning the Side Adventure "The Beast and the Princess". When Link finds the Dondons in their Bronas Forest pen, opposite the Floria River from Lakeside Stable, Cima explains that Zelda was the one who discovered the Dondons, and that they're actually gentle beasts.
Trivia
Dondons are said to be the ancestors of Horses.[5] Horses themselves have appeared as far back chronologically as The Minish Cap, meaning Dondons are indeed from a very ancient era.
References
- ↑ "This is a sanctuary for Dondons, the new animal species discovered by Princess Zelda. Dondons are quite precious, as we've only found five of their kind in the wild. Please be gentle if you touch them. They might look intimidating, but you've got nothing to worry about. They're a good-natured sort. When the princess came to research the Dondons, they used to go tromping around after her wherever she went. I think they're actually quite fond of us two-legged folk. That reminds me... Did you hear that rumor about Princess Zelda being seen riding a beast? Well, I'd bet what people actually saw was her with a Dondon back when she established this sanctuary! It just goes to show how much rumors can take a life of their own. Dondons aren't beastly. They're adorable." — Cima, Tears of the Kingdom
- ↑ "You'll have to bear with me. It's a bit of a long story. One day, some luminous stones I'd picked up fell out of my bag. Before I knew it, a Dondon charged over, and then... Chomp, chomp! It gobbled the luminous stones right up! These animals show no interest in food... and then luminous stones, of all things, spark their hunger? I was shocked! After a while, we found gems on the ground where the Dondon grazed. Those...are the gems. Where they came from remains a little uncertain, but I think the Dondon created them after eating the luminious stones. If that's the case, I might learn more about the nature of Dondons by studying those. So please, don't take them." — Cima, Tears of the Kingdom
- ↑ "Oh my. You've taken an interest in the Dondons, hm? I don't blame you. Only five of those little ones have been found in the world. Few have the chance to meet them in person. I promise, strange as they look, they're a good-natured sort. They used to follow the princess around like little ducklings. Oh, and the way she would dote on them! It was very sweet. Anyway, they really are gentle. Feel free to come visit them whenever you find yourself out here." — Cima, Tears of the Kingdom
- ↑ "Still, you must have come quite a long way! Eeeyah! *sigh* I've hated lightning ever since I was a child. But the Dondons, they don't even flinch at the sound of thunder. They're unflappable. All this thunder and lightning... It's really fraying my nerves. Maybe we should take shelter. Go and watch the Dondons while we wait out this storm." — Cima, Tears of the Kingdom
- ↑ "I am Malanya...the god of horses... In southeast Faron...at Lakeside Stable... the Dondons graze... These ancient creatures, the ancestors of horses...can make precious gems... out of stones..." — Malanya, Tears of the Kingdom