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Tai just wanted to sleep. The shade of Pride Rock was a perfect reprieve from the heat of midday, and from the rest of the pride.
But as long as there were cubs around, peace and quiet could never be possible. She figured that out when she felt a small bundle bump into her backside with an exited “hey!”, making her jump. “Hey, hey, guess what!” It continued.

Cubs were often curious about the “mysterious maned lioness” that the grown-ups didn’t like talking about. Tai couldn’t think of any other reason they’d want to pester her. She had to swallow her anger to keep from yelling at the child, and getting herself in trouble with their mother. Why do cubs have no sense of other’s space? It’s like they think they own the world! They probably do, given how their parents treat them.

“I used that trick you taught me!” Nala squeaked excitedly.

“Did you now?” Tai said wearily.

“Yeah, I used it on Simba a couple times. Pinned him right to the ground, just like you said!”

“Hmm, impressive.” It wasn’t a complete lie. Assuming the cub had in fact successfully done what she said, it was, she admitted, rather impressive. “That should knock some arrogance out of the little prince.”

“Can you teach me another trick? Pretty please?? I want to be the best fighter!” The cub jumped up and down excitedly.

Tai sighed. She supposed she could give the cub another quick lesson if it would get her to leave. “I guess…” She said, sitting up.

“What are you doing?” Sarafina interrupted, having snuck up behind the pair. “Nala you shouldn’t be so far from the cave when you’re still grounded.”

“Aw, but mom! Tai was gonna teach me more fighting tricks!” Nala whined.

“She was, was she?” She said, side-eyeing the other lioness disapprovingly. “Nala you’re much to young to be learning such things. And besides, you don’t need to learn to fight. Your job one day will be to hunt for the pride.”

Tai spoke up. “You don’t think It's a good idea for her to learn to defend herself?” She challenged.

“No,” Sarafina replied “Defending the pride is the King's job.”

“Oh, of course.” Tai mumbled sardonically. “Rely on the big, strong male to do everything….”

Sarafina rolled her eyes. “And I don’t want you around my daughter anymore.” She nudged Nala towards her. “I don’t want her getting confusing ideas.”

“And what” Tai stood up. “Is that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what it means, freak.” She hissed, steering Nala away.

Tai roared and lunged at her, and Sarafina ducked to shield her daughter.

“Tai!” She heard a scolding roar from behind her. She stopped and spun around. Of course.

“How many times must I tell you not to start fights?.” Mufasa scolded. He nodded towards Sarafina and she hurried away, muttering to Nala. “This is why you need to stay away from.....”

“I didn’t start anything!” Tai growled back at him. Was this really going to happen again?

“You need to learn to get along with the rest of the pride. It’s not healthy for someone to be so reclusive, especially a lioness. I don’t want you to end up like my brother…”

“Are you kidding?!” She protested. Did he not see how the pride treated her?

“I know Sarafina can be a bit protective, but you mustn’t take it personally. And besides, it does concern me that you’re always the first to unsheathe your claws in these situations.”

“Why? Does that intimidate you?” She challenged.

He growled a warning at her. “Don’t test me, Tai! It is not your place to challenge your king!”

“And what is my place?” Her tone was still challenging, but it was a genuine question. The Circle of Life had a place for everything, according to pride doctrine. Except for things they didn’t like.

Just then she heard a soft flapping coming towards them. She looked up to see Zazu approaching. “Ready for our patrol, sire.” He chirped, landing on the king’s shoulder. Mufasa nodded and looked back to Tai. “Just behave yourself.” He warned. He then turned and headed out into the savanna.

You didn’t answer my question. Tai stomped off in the opposite direction, fuming. Her nap was ruined.

She spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the territory, stopping to observe certain species going about their day. She paid particular attention to animals that weren’t well respected. A spider carefully weaving her web, a snake sunbathing on a rock, the vultures, for which Tai was named, picking at the remains of one of the pride’s recent kills. They were all considered frightful or revolting to most, including lions. And for what? Doing what came naturally? Keeping the ecosystem in check?

And what an irony that her own name referred to the scavenging birds. It was fitting though, as she often wished she could fly. Birds didn’t seem to have the same hang ups as mammals did. If only she’d been a bird… Such thoughts would likely be seen as blasphemous if she spoke them out loud. Yes, every creature had a place in the circle of life, but lions, according to old stories, were created with the right to rule and keep the peace. Tai had always been skeptical of those claims. It just didn’t seem fair.

Eventually the sun began making its way towards the horizon, and she circled back towards Pride Rock. Twilight was when the hunting parties would go out. She wasn’t planning on joining one, as she preferred to hunt alone. But she didn’t feel like hunting at all tonight. She just wanted another chance at sleep while everyone was out.

When she finally made it home, though, she was greeted by a pride in shock and mourning.

The king was dead.

Tai didn’t know what to think. Of course, she too was shocked. She had just seen Mufasa mere hours ago. She had talked to him, well, argued with him. But should she feel guilt? Her last words to him were a challenge. But his last words to her were a dismissal, as if she were a nuisance.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t feel grief. At least not to the degree everyone else seemed to. She was never close to Mufasa. Or anyone. She rather disliked him, if she were being honest. He was always throwing his weight around. But she played the part and sat vigil nonetheless.

Sarabi was in hysterics, having lost both husband and son. Nala was confused, perhaps grasping with the finality of death for the first time. Zazu blamed himself. He had witnessed the stampede, but blacked out before he could find help. He took it upon himself to inform the rest of the kingdom.

And Scar, who took responsibility for the eulogy, really put on a show, crocodile tears and all. Tai didn’t buy it. She knew how much he had loathed his brother. This was the luckiest day of his life. He had been kept around only to replace Mufasa if, heaven forbid, something were to happen to him. That fact was what made Scar so bitter. No one had wanted him around otherwise. Like Tai, he could never measure up to the pride’s standards of what it meant to be lion.

“And so it is with a heavy heart that I assume the throne.” And there it was, his claiming of power. “And yet, out of the ashes of this tragedy, we shall rise, to greet the dawning of a new era, in which lion and hyena come together, in a great and glorious future!”

Of all the things she expected his speech to end with, this was certainly at the bottom of the list. And as he took his place on the ledge of Pride Rock, she heard the whoops and giggles only one kind of animal could make. They circled the lionesses, outnumbering them by the dozens.

Hyenas in the Pridelands? It was unheard of. No previous king would have allowed it. But then, none of the previous kings would have wanted such a scrawny male representing the pride, either. Yet here they were, defying generations of strict tradition. Despite the circumstances, Tai began to feel a sense of liberation.

“Scar!” Sarabi shouted up to him. “What is the meaning of this?! Why have you brought hyenas to Pride Rock?!”

“Did you not hear me?” He scoffed. “I am allying our species. We will no longer be at war.”

“Mufasa wouldn’t want this!” Sarafina cried, shielding Nala from the other predators.

“Mufasa is no longer king!” Scar exclaimed. “And if anyone takes issue with that, please do speak up.” He offered, threateningly. A few hyenas stepped up behind him.

Tai was waiting for the others to figure out what she had. Scar had loathed his brother and nephew. He was present at the stampede. And now he already had an army at the ready before Mufasa’s body was even cold. She knew it was all too perfect. But she said nothing. She had been watching the two species interact. The lions glared at the hyenas, never letting them out of sight. Tai recognized that look. She knew it all too well: pure disgust.

And like the vultures and snakes and spiders from before, she felt an instant kinship with the creatures who were meant to be her mortal enemies.

Tai stepped forward. “I think it’s a good idea. We’ve been at war since these lands were founded. And for what?” She turned to look at the others. “Tradition? There’s plenty here in the Pridelands, enough to share with our fellow predators. Plus, if I understand correctly,” she glanced over to the nearest hyena, trying to be polite. “Hyenas can eat bones, and we have no animals here like that. They can help keep the lands clean.” The hyena next to her, a lazy-eyed giddy-looking male, nodded rapidly in approval.

“I’m pleased to know someone sees what I’m trying to do.” Scar praised.

The others were astonished.

“Sarabi” Sarafina whispered. “We can’t let him do this, can we?”

Sarabi sighed. “Scar is the king now. We must do as he says.” She turned to the others. “Come. There will be no hunting tonight.” She led the others up the slope towards the cave. Scar followed them in.

Sarafina eyed Tai with malice as she passed. “Leave it to a vulture to side with hyenas.”

Tai met her gaze. “Perhaps this vulture is tired of begging for scraps from you pompous pricks.” She spat out the last few words.

Sarafina hissed and hurried after the rest of the pride, Nala in toe.

Tai heard a giggle from behind her. “Ha! Nice word-play, weird lion.” A male hyena trotted up to her. “Too bad they’re not hunting, though. I’m starving!”

“We can hunt for ourselves, Banzai.” A female chimed in. “There’ll be more to go around with them outta the way.” She turned to Tai. “Thanks for sticking up for us. You’re a real one.” She nudged her side.

Tai nodded, unfamiliar with the contact.

“Anyway,” the hyena continued. “Since you’re the only one left, care to show us around? My clan and I could really use a good meal. We didn’t come by much in our old territory.”

“Your clan?” Tai asked “Are you in charge?”

“That’s right. Name’s Shenzi.” She nodded to the male next to her. “And this is Banzai. And that over there” she pointed to the male Tai had referred to earlier. “Is Ed. He doesn’t speak.”

Ed giggled and nodded like before. What a strange bunch. Tai thought. They were nothing like her stuffy pride. And they were being nice to her. They didn’t even know her. She felt a bit weary of the unfamiliar friendliness, but she wasn’t going to squander this opportunity for companionship.

“I’m Tai.” She said. “And I’d be happy to show you around.” She set out towards the savannah. “I know a great spot where the impala graze this time of night…”

This would be the beginning of a better life…

_____________

I’m not a writer, but I had something in my head and I needed to put it to paper. And now we get so see how Lion!Peregrine fits into the TLK story. Basically she's my self-insert for me to use to explore my problems with the universe.

So I’ve never been able to relate to any of the protagonists in The Lion King franchise, or most franchises really. I find them boring at best, and annoying at worst, and always wind up resenting them despite them technically not doing anything wrong. They always get their happy endings and, oh, what-do-ya-know, they also always happen to be really basic, heterosexual, neurotypical people with maybe a minor flaw that most of the population has. Gotta make ‘em relatable to as many people as possible after all. Oh what’s that? There are a lot of people out there that don’t fit that mold? The queers you say? Oh and the disabled too? Oh don’t worry, here are some villains and comic relief characters for them. After all, those freaks can’t be the main characters. That would be silly!

And that is why I'm always rooting for the villain.

Tai - Swahili for “eagle/vulture”

Update: Good News! Thanks to all of the positive responses, I've decided to make this the first of four chapters! Each will be roughly the same length as this and follow Tai during Scar's Reign and where it all leads. I may also have a short epilogue. Thanks again for all the feedback!

Next Chapter

Description
Tai just wanted to sleep. The shade of Pride Rock was a perfect reprieve from the heat of midday, and from the rest of the pride.
But as long as there were cubs around, peace and quiet could never be possible. She figured that out when she felt a small bundle bump into her backside with an exited “hey!”, making her jump. “Hey, hey, guess what!” It continued.

Cubs were often curious about the “mysterious maned lioness” that the grown-ups didn’t like talking about. Tai couldn’t think of any other reason they’d want to pester her. She had to swallow her anger to keep from yelling at the child, and getting herself in trouble with their mother. Why do cubs have no sense of other’s space? It’s like they think they own the world! They probably do, given how their parents treat them.

“I used that trick you taught me!” Nala squeaked excitedly.

“Did you now?” Tai said wearily.

“Yeah, I used it on Simba a couple times. Pinned him right to the ground, just like you said!”

“Hmm, impressive.” It wasn’t a complete lie. Assuming the cub had in fact successfully done what she said, it was, she admitted, rather impressive. “That should knock some arrogance out of the little prince.”

“Can you teach me another trick? Pretty please?? I want to be the best fighter!” The cub jumped up and down excitedly.

Tai sighed. She supposed she could give the cub another quick lesson if it would get her to leave. “I guess…” She said, sitting up.

“What are you doing?” Sarafina interrupted, having snuck up behind the pair. “Nala you shouldn’t be so far from the cave when you’re still grounded.”

“Aw, but mom! Tai was gonna teach me more fighting tricks!” Nala whined.

“She was, was she?” She said, side-eyeing the other lioness disapprovingly. “Nala you’re much to young to be learning such things. And besides, you don’t need to learn to fight. Your job one day will be to hunt for the pride.”

Tai spoke up. “You don’t think It's a good idea for her to learn to defend herself?” She challenged.

“No,” Sarafina replied “Defending the pride is the King's job.”

“Oh, of course.” Tai mumbled sardonically. “Rely on the big, strong male to do everything….”

Sarafina rolled her eyes. “And I don’t want you around my daughter anymore.” She nudged Nala towards her. “I don’t want her getting confusing ideas.”

“And what” Tai stood up. “Is that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what it means, freak.” She hissed, steering Nala away.

Tai roared and lunged at her, and Sarafina ducked to shield her daughter.

“Tai!” She heard a scolding roar from behind her. She stopped and spun around. Of course.

“How many times must I tell you not to start fights?.” Mufasa scolded. He nodded towards Sarafina and she hurried away, muttering to Nala. “This is why you need to stay away from.....”

“I didn’t start anything!” Tai growled back at him. Was this really going to happen again?

“You need to learn to get along with the rest of the pride. It’s not healthy for someone to be so reclusive, especially a lioness. I don’t want you to end up like my brother…”

“Are you kidding?!” She protested. Did he not see how the pride treated her?

“I know Sarafina can be a bit protective, but you mustn’t take it personally. And besides, it does concern me that you’re always the first to unsheathe your claws in these situations.”

“Why? Does that intimidate you?” She challenged.

He growled a warning at her. “Don’t test me, Tai! It is not your place to challenge your king!”

“And what is my place?” Her tone was still challenging, but it was a genuine question. The Circle of Life had a place for everything, according to pride doctrine. Except for things they didn’t like.

Just then she heard a soft flapping coming towards them. She looked up to see Zazu approaching. “Ready for our patrol, sire.” He chirped, landing on the king’s shoulder. Mufasa nodded and looked back to Tai. “Just behave yourself.” He warned. He then turned and headed out into the savanna.

You didn’t answer my question. Tai stomped off in the opposite direction, fuming. Her nap was ruined.

She spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the territory, stopping to observe certain species going about their day. She paid particular attention to animals that weren’t well respected. A spider carefully weaving her web, a snake sunbathing on a rock, the vultures, for which Tai was named, picking at the remains of one of the pride’s recent kills. They were all considered frightful or revolting to most, including lions. And for what? Doing what came naturally? Keeping the ecosystem in check?

And what an irony that her own name referred to the scavenging birds. It was fitting though, as she often wished she could fly. Birds didn’t seem to have the same hang ups as mammals did. If only she’d been a bird… Such thoughts would likely be seen as blasphemous if she spoke them out loud. Yes, every creature had a place in the circle of life, but lions, according to old stories, were created with the right to rule and keep the peace. Tai had always been skeptical of those claims. It just didn’t seem fair.

Eventually the sun began making its way towards the horizon, and she circled back towards Pride Rock. Twilight was when the hunting parties would go out. She wasn’t planning on joining one, as she preferred to hunt alone. But she didn’t feel like hunting at all tonight. She just wanted another chance at sleep while everyone was out.

When she finally made it home, though, she was greeted by a pride in shock and mourning.

The king was dead.

Tai didn’t know what to think. Of course, she too was shocked. She had just seen Mufasa mere hours ago. She had talked to him, well, argued with him. But should she feel guilt? Her last words to him were a challenge. But his last words to her were a dismissal, as if she were a nuisance.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t feel grief. At least not to the degree everyone else seemed to. She was never close to Mufasa. Or anyone. She rather disliked him, if she were being honest. He was always throwing his weight around. But she played the part and sat vigil nonetheless.

Sarabi was in hysterics, having lost both husband and son. Nala was confused, perhaps grasping with the finality of death for the first time. Zazu blamed himself. He had witnessed the stampede, but blacked out before he could find help. He took it upon himself to inform the rest of the kingdom.

And Scar, who took responsibility for the eulogy, really put on a show, crocodile tears and all. Tai didn’t buy it. She knew how much he had loathed his brother. This was the luckiest day of his life. He had been kept around only to replace Mufasa if, heaven forbid, something were to happen to him. That fact was what made Scar so bitter. No one had wanted him around otherwise. Like Tai, he could never measure up to the pride’s standards of what it meant to be lion.

“And so it is with a heavy heart that I assume the throne.” And there it was, his claiming of power. “And yet, out of the ashes of this tragedy, we shall rise, to greet the dawning of a new era, in which lion and hyena come together, in a great and glorious future!”

Of all the things she expected his speech to end with, this was certainly at the bottom of the list. And as he took his place on the ledge of Pride Rock, she heard the whoops and giggles only one kind of animal could make. They circled the lionesses, outnumbering them by the dozens.

Hyenas in the Pridelands? It was unheard of. No previous king would have allowed it. But then, none of the previous kings would have wanted such a scrawny male representing the pride, either. Yet here they were, defying generations of strict tradition. Despite the circumstances, Tai began to feel a sense of liberation.

“Scar!” Sarabi shouted up to him. “What is the meaning of this?! Why have you brought hyenas to Pride Rock?!”

“Did you not hear me?” He scoffed. “I am allying our species. We will no longer be at war.”

“Mufasa wouldn’t want this!” Sarafina cried, shielding Nala from the other predators.

“Mufasa is no longer king!” Scar exclaimed. “And if anyone takes issue with that, please do speak up.” He offered, threateningly. A few hyenas stepped up behind him.

Tai was waiting for the others to figure out what she had. Scar had loathed his brother and nephew. He was present at the stampede. And now he already had an army at the ready before Mufasa’s body was even cold. She knew it was all too perfect. But she said nothing. She had been watching the two species interact. The lions glared at the hyenas, never letting them out of sight. Tai recognized that look. She knew it all too well: pure disgust.

And like the vultures and snakes and spiders from before, she felt an instant kinship with the creatures who were meant to be her mortal enemies.

Tai stepped forward. “I think it’s a good idea. We’ve been at war since these lands were founded. And for what?” She turned to look at the others. “Tradition? There’s plenty here in the Pridelands, enough to share with our fellow predators. Plus, if I understand correctly,” she glanced over to the nearest hyena, trying to be polite. “Hyenas can eat bones, and we have no animals here like that. They can help keep the lands clean.” The hyena next to her, a lazy-eyed giddy-looking male, nodded rapidly in approval.

“I’m pleased to know someone sees what I’m trying to do.” Scar praised.

The others were astonished.

“Sarabi” Sarafina whispered. “We can’t let him do this, can we?”

Sarabi sighed. “Scar is the king now. We must do as he says.” She turned to the others. “Come. There will be no hunting tonight.” She led the others up the slope towards the cave. Scar followed them in.

Sarafina eyed Tai with malice as she passed. “Leave it to a vulture to side with hyenas.”

Tai met her gaze. “Perhaps this vulture is tired of begging for scraps from you pompous pricks.” She spat out the last few words.

Sarafina hissed and hurried after the rest of the pride, Nala in toe.

Tai heard a giggle from behind her. “Ha! Nice word-play, weird lion.” A male hyena trotted up to her. “Too bad they’re not hunting, though. I’m starving!”

“We can hunt for ourselves, Banzai.” A female chimed in. “There’ll be more to go around with them outta the way.” She turned to Tai. “Thanks for sticking up for us. You’re a real one.” She nudged her side.

Tai nodded, unfamiliar with the contact.

“Anyway,” the hyena continued. “Since you’re the only one left, care to show us around? My clan and I could really use a good meal. We didn’t come by much in our old territory.”

“Your clan?” Tai asked “Are you in charge?”

“That’s right. Name’s Shenzi.” She nodded to the male next to her. “And this is Banzai. And that over there” she pointed to the male Tai had referred to earlier. “Is Ed. He doesn’t speak.”

Ed giggled and nodded like before. What a strange bunch. Tai thought. They were nothing like her stuffy pride. And they were being nice to her. They didn’t even know her. She felt a bit weary of the unfamiliar friendliness, but she wasn’t going to squander this opportunity for companionship.

“I’m Tai.” She said. “And I’d be happy to show you around.” She set out towards the savannah. “I know a great spot where the impala graze this time of night…”

This would be the beginning of a better life…

_____________

I’m not a writer, but I had something in my head and I needed to put it to paper. And now we get so see how Lion!Peregrine fits into the TLK story. Basically she's my self-insert for me to use to explore my problems with the universe.

So I’ve never been able to relate to any of the protagonists in The Lion King franchise, or most franchises really. I find them boring at best, and annoying at worst, and always wind up resenting them despite them technically not doing anything wrong. They always get their happy endings and, oh, what-do-ya-know, they also always happen to be really basic, heterosexual, neurotypical people with maybe a minor flaw that most of the population has. Gotta make ‘em relatable to as many people as possible after all. Oh what’s that? There are a lot of people out there that don’t fit that mold? The queers you say? Oh and the disabled too? Oh don’t worry, here are some villains and comic relief characters for them. After all, those freaks can’t be the main characters. That would be silly!

And that is why I'm always rooting for the villain.

Tai - Swahili for “eagle/vulture”

Update: Good News! Thanks to all of the positive responses, I've decided to make this the first of four chapters! Each will be roughly the same length as this and follow Tai during Scar's Reign and where it all leads. I may also have a short epilogue. Thanks again for all the feedback!

Next Chapter