Lion — animorphs

Rachel morphing into a lion in the TV series

"You see all these lions on TV, in movies, in commercials or whatever, and they're often tame and kind of sweet. Or you see them lying around with their paws in the air, sleeping in the shade on the savanna. But you need to realize something. The reason lions have lots of time to sleep is that they are very, very effective killers. They don't need to expend a lot of energy, because as long as there is prey, they'll eat just fine."

―Jake^[src]

The lion is a large cat native to Earth. It was the main battle morph for David and James and was also Rachel's battle morph in the TV series, while a lioness was used by an Auxiliary Animorph and at least two morph-capable Yeerks/human-Controllers.

Acquiring

"Cassie had helped him to acquire a combat morph. He'd chosen a male lion. As I watched, I saw the bushy mane sprout from around his neck."

―Jake^[src]

David acquired a male lion from The Gardens in The Discovery, with the help of Cassie.^[1] Nearly two years later, a male lion at The Gardens was acquired by James in The Ultimate.^[2] At least one Auxiliary Animorph acquired a lioness,^[3] along with two Yeerks/human-Controllers.^[4]

Usage

Used by David

"You never answered me, Jake. Lion versus tiger. Who do you think will win?"
"Let's find out."

―David and Jake^[src]

David chose a male lion as his battle morph when he joined the Animorphs. He first morphed into a male lion when he tried to sneak out of Cassie's barn, using the lion morph to make his way into the woods before demorphing and remorphing into a golden eagle. Shortly after, when the Animorphs were at the Marriott Resort, David rolled under a table and morphed into a lion despite Jake's order for them to evacuate. While under the table, David asked Jake who he thought would win in a fight between a lion and a tiger, although Jake did not answer. Days later, when David betrayed the Animorphs, he and Jake had a showdown on the mall roof, with David using his lion morph while Jake morphed into his tiger. The two dueled, but Jake's attempts to bite David's throat failed when he bit into David's mane; David, who had the same idea, successfully bit into Jake's tiger throat as the two fell through the mall's skylight and landed onto the floor below.^[1] Rachel and Ax soon arrived at the mall, and David attempted to attack Rachel in his lion morph, and nearly succeeded in biting her fingers off before she got away from him.^[5]

Used by James

"James's choice of battle morph was an ironic one. Though when he'd chosen a male lion, he had no idea David, the ill-fated Animorph, had chosen the same. Jake is not superstitious. Ignoring our meaningful looks, he'd said nothing. Except, "Good choice, James." Now, watching the lion's wild golden mane emerge from James's own thick golden hair, the morph seemed somehow appropriate."

―Cassie^[src]

James, the leader of the Auxiliary Animorphs, chose a male lion as his battle morph. He first morphed into the lion when he and the other Auxiliaries were called by Cassie to rescue the primary Animorphs, who had been captured by the Yeerks. James continued to use the lion as his battle morph, and was in the lion morph during the final stand against the Yeerk Empire when he was burned alive by the Pool ship's Dracon assault cannon on Visser One's orders. As a result, James was killed while in the lion body.^[2]