Line #21 Fanfic/TheFemaleOfTheSpecies


1	''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/12048432/chapters/27281406 The Female of the Species]]'' is a fanfic by Fernstrike based on ''Franchise/TheLionKing''.
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3	It consists of three chapters, each focused on one female character: Uru, Sarabi, and Nala. They each are themed around one central concept--motherhood, being queen, and being a hunter.
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5	----
6	!!''The Female of the Species'' provides examples of:
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8	* AffectionateNickname: Sarafina is called "Fina" by Sarabi. Scar used to call her that too when they were on good terms.
9	* AnimalReligion: When lions die, they become {{stars\|AreSouls}}. The Great Kings of the past look down on lions, as does the Great Spirit that resides in the moon.
10	* ChildhoodFriendRomance:
11	** Implied between Sarabi and Mufasa. The two used to play as cubs and as adults they became mates.
12	** As in canon, Simba and Nala are two cubhood friends who later fell in love after being reunited.
13	* ChildhoodFriends: Scar, Sarabi, and Mufasa are all cubhood friends. Sarafina is also their close friend, however she was born when the trio were near adulthood.
14	* ChocolateBaby:
15	** Sarafina's husband was Scar, yet only one of her two cubs are his. Nala looks nothing like Scar and it's an OpenSecret that she's not his daughter. Sarafina had Nala with a nameless rogue during the period when Scar's personality began to change.
16	** Kovu isn't Scar's son, however Scar seemingly doesn't realize this due to their strong resemblance.
17	* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Lions have a ceremony that, when an old king dies and a new king is crowned, all the cubs that aren't the new king's are killed. It's a tragic event, but it's seen as their due to the Great Spirit and the previous Great Kings.
18	* DownerBeginning: The first chapter starts with Uru dying after being attacked while hunting.
19	* FurryReminder: New kings kill all cubs who aren't theirs. Real lions also commit infanticide on cubs that aren't theirs.
20	* HeirClubForMen: Scar rejects Vitani as his heir simply because she's female.
21	* HeroicBastard: Nala is the result of an affair Sarafina had while Scar was courting her. He always knew that Nala wasn't his, which is why he rejects her.
22	* IntimateHairBrushing: Lion equivalent. Nala's mother Sarafina gives her a light tongue-bath after Nala has a confrontation with Scar. Nala notes that she hasn't received a bath from her mother since Simba's death. She's become more introverted since then.
23	* LiteraryAllusionTitle: The story's title comes from a poem of the same name.
24	* MeaningfulName: Lampshaded when Uru mentions that Taka embodies his name (which translates to "want").
25	* MeaningfulRename: Taka renaming himself "Scar" was inspired by his mother's dying words. She told him that a (metaphorical) scar "means you are strong".
26	* MissingMom: The first chapter revolves around Uru's death. While on a hunt with Sarafina and Sarabi, she's gorged by a wildebeast.
27	* OhMyGods: The characters refer to the past kings rather than their {{God}}, the Great Spirit:
28	** "Great Kings bless them" is used by Uru.
29	** Sarafina uses "Oh Kings (...)".
30	* PatchworkFic: The story takes elements from the main films, spinoff comics, books, and Broadway play. It also features some elements cut in development of the series.
31	* RelatedInTheAdaptation:
32	** Nala's brother Mheetu is Scar's son. This isn't from the developmental scripts.

Context Fanfic / TheFemaleOfTheSpecies