Shupavu

Shupavu is a female skink. She is the leader of a group of skinks in the Outlands.
Shupavu assisted Ushari in resurrecting the spirit of Scar. Along with her fellow skinks, she served as Scar's spy and frequently informed him about the doings of the Pride Landers, most notably the Lion Guard. Eventually, the conflict between the Army of Scar and the Pride Landers escalated to the point that the Pride Landers invaded the Outlands and did battle with the Army of Scar. The Pride Landers emerged victorious, and the Army of Scar was disbanded.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Shupavu lived in the Outlands. At some point in her life, she became the leader of a group of skinks.
===Scar's resurrection===
One day, Shupavu and Njano watched the Lion Guard lead Makuu's float into their hibernation cave.
Later, Ushari led Janja's clan to a grove of trees, where he called for Shupavu and her skinks. Shupavu asked why Ushari had called for them, and he requested that one of her skinks follow Rafiki and Makini into the Lair of the Lion Guard so they could find out if there was a way to speak to the evil Lions of the Past. Shupavu agreed to Ushari's request but asked that her skinks get something in return. Ushari told her that, if they helped him, the balance of the Pride Lands would tip in their favor, so Shupavu sent Nyeusi, her stealthiest skink, to spy on Rafiki and Makini.
Both Shupavu and Ushari accompanied Nyeusi to the entrance of the Lair. Ushari asked if Rafiki and Makini were inside, and Shupavu confirmed that they were. She then expressed eagerness to leave Pride Rock, so Ushari thanked her and her skinks for their help. The skinks then promptly departed.
===Army of Scar===
====Recruiting Kiburi====
While Makuu spoke to Simba about the crocodiles' dry season situation, Kiburi seized control of the float and resolved to take over the Pride Lands' watering holes. From afar, Shupavu and Njano watched in fascination, and Shupavu resolved to speak to Scar and Ushari about the proceedings.
At the volcano, Scar praised the skinks' work and told Ushari to inform the skinks that they should keep an eye on the situation and update him if anything changed. Ushari relayed the message to the skinks, and Shupavu left to do as Scar had instructed. Later, as the Lion Guard escorted Makuu's float to their dry season home, Shupavu and Njano watched from afar and overheard that Kiburi had challenged Makuu to a mashindano. Back at the volcano, Shupavu reported that the mashindano would occur at sunset, and Scar praised the skinks for having brought him such valuable information.
====Ambush for Beshte====
When Thurston and several members of his herd got stuck in a dry riverbed, the Lion Guard arrived to help. Kion decided to use the Roar of the Elders to make a rainstorm to loosen the mud. The Roar turned a cloud into a thunderstorm, and the falling rain loosened the mud, which freed some of the zebras. Kion ordered Beshte to stop the water flow while he and the rest of the Guard freed the stuck zebras. The zebras were successfully brought to safety, but in the midst of the rescue, Beshte was swept away by the impeding floodwaters and found himself trapped in the Outlands.
While in the Outlands, Beshte began to suffer under the intense heat and desperately searched for shade. Unbeknownst to the hippopotamus, Shupavu and her followers were tracking his progress. Eventually, Beshte met Shupavu and her fellow skinks, and believed them to be well-intentioned. He admitted his worries about the sunlight, and Shupavu offered to lead him to an area of shade. Beshte agreed, and the group departed.
As Beshte followed Shupavu and the skinks, he expressed his concern about getting burned in the sun, and one of Shupavu's cronies declared that he knew a shortcut that would spare Beshte from the sun. Though Shupavu was dubious of her minion's claims, the skink insisted that they must trust him, and the group followed him into a cavern. From afar, Janja and his cronies watched.
The skinks continued to lead Beshte through the cavern until they reached a dead-end. From above, the hyenas revealed themselves, and Beshte desperately tried to warn the skinks about the danger. Just then, the hyenas pushed a large boulder into the pit's exit to trap Beshte, and the skinks escaped by slithering into crevices in the rock.
====Alliance with Hodari====
Shupavu and Njano witnessed Hodari being denied entry to Makuu's float. Shupavu mused that a gecko who was friends with the Lion Guard could make a useful ally to Kiburi. The skinks waited until Beshte had been called away to help the rest of the Lion Guard, then approached Hodari and offered him a place in Kiburi's float.
====Defeat in the volcano====
Shupavu attempted to take down the Lion Guard along with the rest of the Army of Scar. She was defeated when Kion used the Roar of the Elders to clear a path out of the volcano.
====Attack on Kinyonga====
In the volcano, Shupavu noticed Kinyonga's shadow on the wall and alerted Scar to the intruder. Ushari ordered the skinks to pursue her, and Kinyonga raced away, with Shupavu and her minions hot on her tail. The skinks managed to corner Kinyonga, but the Lion Guard arrived and defended her. The skinks hastily retreated.
====Hyena Resistance====
After the Hyena Resistance managed to foil three attacks by the Army of Scar, Jasiri celebrated the movement's success on the border of the Outlands and the Pride Lands. Unbeknownst to her and her clan, Shupavu and Njano overheard the conversation and reported what they had learned to Scar.
Later, in the midst of a battle, Janja was knocked into a lava pit, and Jasiri saved him. Janja was stunned by her willingness to save him, and Jasiri explained that he could join the Hyena Resistance instead of allying with Scar. After a moment of hesitation, Janja refused. Shupavu and Njano noted his hesitation and vowed to inform Scar.
====Report on Kiara and Kion====
When Kion, Bunga, Kiara, Tiifu, and Zuri went to the mudpots to relax, Shupavu and Njano reported their activity to Scar. Scar expressed interest in the cubs' location, and Shupavu told him that they were surrounded by dry plants and grass. She went on that one spark would be able to set the whole area on fire, and Njano added that half the royal family would burn as well. Scar subsequently sent Njano to retrieve Mzingo. Shupavu asked why he had asked for a vulture, and Scar told her that he was going to send Kiara and Kion a gift of fire.
====Attack on Makuu's watering hole====
The Lion Guard concluded that the Pride Landers must unite against the threat of the Outlanders. Makuu begrudgingly agreed to help, but his training was too rigorous and ruthless for the other Pride Landers to master. Kion urged Makuu to be kinder to his fellow Pride Landers, but Makuu left in a huff and vowed to only look out for his own float if trouble arose. Unbeknownst to the Pride Landers, Shupavu and Njano spied on the proceedings and reported back to Scar. After hearing the skinks' report, Scar decided to attack Makuu's watering hole since the crocodiles' alliance with Kion was fraying.
====Dhahabu's visit====
After meeting with Simba atop Pride Rock, Dhahabu was escorted on a tour around the kingdom by Kiara, Tiifu, and Zuri. The Lion Guard tagged along at Dhahabu's insistence. Unbeknownst to the group, Shupavu and Njano spied on the proceedings.
Later, Shupavu and Njano informed Scar of Dhahabu's visit to the Pride Lands. Scar schemed to end the treaty between the two kingdoms and so sent his jackal minions after Dhahabu.
====Attack on Mizimu Grove====
At Big Springs, Timon and Pumbaa wandered by on the trail of a slug. No sooner had they left when Makini arrived and showed off a plant root that would be part of her mpando mpaya, which was the traditional planting of a new baobab tree by a Royal Mjuzi. This prompted Kion to chase after Timon and Pumbaa, and ask them to perform at Makini's mpando mpaya. That way, he reasoned, the dejected Pride Landers would treat it like a celebratory event and have their spirits raised. Delighted, Timon and Pumbaa agreed, and Timon declared that nobody would want to miss the show. From the shadows, Shupavu and Njano watched with interest, and Shupavu told Njano that Scar would not want to miss the show either.
The skinks relayed what they had learned to Scar, and he expressed interest in attending Makini's mpando mpaya. Shupavu explained that the Lion Guard was personally inviting the Pride Landers to the celebration, and Scar replied that the Pride Landers surely would not object to some uninvited guests.
====Battle for the Pride Lands====
Upon overhearing Simba's plan to invade the Outlands, Shupavu told Njano that they should inform Scar. Shortly afterward, Shupavu brought Janja to the volcano for a talk with Scar. After Janja had left, Scar ordered Shupavu to rally Kiburi, Mzingo, and Reirei so they could destroy the royal family and Janja's clan.
That night, Shupavu led Janja's clan to the Lair of the Lion Guard. Chungu marveled at the number of Pride Landers at Pride Rock, and Janja explained that Scar wanted to attack them while they were all in one place. As they talked, Shupavu hushed them and reminded them that they did not want to give their presence away. Just then, Goigoi appeared and asked which way Pride Rock was, to which Shupavu pointed out that it was right there. Once Goigoi had left, Shupavu told the hyenas that they were going around back. She then led the clan to the Lair's entrance and explained that they needed to get the Lion Guard's attention and keep them distracted.
After Scar double-crossed the hyenas, they reformed and joined the Pride Landers. Shupavu witnessed the hyenas' change of allegiance and reported it to Scar. He then told Shupavu, Njano, and Ushari how he had obtained his scar.
The next morning, the Pride Landers invaded the Outlands. Shupavu informed Scar that the Pride Landers were winning and that the Lion Guard was en route to the volcano. Furious, Scar told Shupavu that it was the skinks' job to stop them, so she rallied her group, and they attacked the Lion Guard. Despite their best efforts, the skinks were easily defeated. Additionally, Scar's spirit was destroyed, and his army was disbanded.
==Physical appearance==
Shupavu is a moderately sized and slender skink. She has dark red scales, with bright red spots on her back, dark eye rims, and yellow stripes under her eyes. She also has patches of lighter scales on her face and legs. Her eyes are black.
==Personality and traits==
Shupavu is sly and sneaky, with a nasty streak. Like her fellow skinks, she is self-serving and only joined the Army of Scar because she believed it would tip the Pride Lands in her favor. She can be somewhat sadistic and frequently taunts her enemies. Despite her small size, Shupavu is aggressive and ferocious, and will valiantly charge into battle against much larger and more powerful opponents.
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
* Shupavu was voiced by Meghan Strange.
** Strange also voiced Astuto, Kiazi, Kinyonga, and Laini.
* Shupavu's name means "tough, strong, firm, hard" or "obstinate, stubborn, pig-headed" or "pertinent, relevant" in Swahili.
==References==
Category:Antagonists
Category:Army of Scar members
Category:Canon articles
Category:Characters
Category:Females
Category:Leaders
Category:The Lion Guard characters
Category:Outlanders
Category:Skinks