Personality: Aya is a very stubborn lioness. Due to the nature in which she was raised, she is a firm believer in the order. She has a bad habit of placing certain lions on a pedestal, and being unable to see their flaws until it’s too late. She’s in love with nature and prefers the open skies. Aya comes off as mature but deep down is somewhat of an emotional child. 

Relations: Unnamed (brother) , unnamed parents

Basic Information: Aya was born as a legacy into the Defenders of Legacy. Her parents and grandparents were members of the Defenders, and she along with her brother were raised to continue that line. Aya grew up rarely seeing her parents, who were more focused on their work than their cubs. As a result, Aya craves nothing more than to earn their attention. She spent all of her time learning from the guards and older lions of the pride about what it took to become a defender, and was always trying to impress when she had the chance. 

While she was given the occasional praise from her workaholic parents, Aya grew up not really knowing them. She has thus developed a somewhat unhealthy habit of appointing other lions into the positions that her parents ought to occupy. Specifically, Aya looked up to the four manes and their closest warriors. When the four manes fell and she was just an adolescent, Aya lost all hope for her pride, until Kanu and Mwenye managed to bring order back. 

When Kanu disappears, Aya is somewhat heartbroken but continues to serve the Defenders. 

Aya looked up to both the lions, but she adored Kanu the most. In a sense, he was like the father that she never had. This caused her to work harder to earn her wing. On a hunting mission for the pride, Aya ran across a mole who requested her help in aiding a lost meerkat princess, who’s father, the Duke, was devastated at her disappearance. Aya agreed, and together with the mole found Tatiana. The two dug the meerkat out of her predicament and returned her safely to her father. The Duke, not bothering much with names, spotted Aya’s muddy paws and called her “Digger”. The other meerkats joined in chorus with their leader, and Aya accepted the new name with pride. 

By the time Kanu returns, Digger is a well respected member of the Defenders. While originally ecstatic to have him back and initially supporting his reclaiming leadership, Digger eventually finds herself suspicious of the lion she once revered above all others. 

Trivia: 

• She is called “Digger” by pretty much everyone, and rarely does anyone use her proper name. 
• Her paws are often muddy. 
• She loves the rain, swimming, and mud. 

Summary-Relation: 

Aya, a lioness born into the Defenders of Legacy, one day rescues the meerkat princess Tatiana and returns her to her father the duke with the help of the mole, earning herself a new name: Digger. 

The Defenders of Legacy and the wing design belong to Tea!

Original photos belong to Disney!