Tennessee was born in Texas in a private zoo owned by a big cat fanatic. She was an oops cub born of a leopardess and lion. the lion had snuck in through a cage break to see his sweetheart but ended up forgetting where the exit was and was found the next day. Tennessee was born around the same time the man was found to have the cats in unhealthy exibits, so she and her mother where transfered to an african zoo where there was more room for them. Tennessee's dad was not transfered with them.
When Tennessee was old enough to start living on her own her mother was tranfered again to a different zoo to be introduced to another male panther. And Tennessee was entroduced to a sad silver lion. The poor cub had no sight and had been left for dead by his pride. Tennessee decided to always be there for the lion and she always has.