When Jinx spoke her heated words, he was once again corrected. Whatever the reason for her hostility it was not because she had been offended by his speech - not in the manner he thought. Quick words were thrown his way and he shrank from them, as he shrank from her. Easing himself low and serpentine, as if smothering the earth would save him from whatever wrath he had summoned from the stranger. His ears did cup the sound of her voice and he heard her enunciate one word, and though he did not understand it, the woman's intentions became somewhat less muddy.
He responded with a sudden blurt - "Name." - which actually came as a surprise to himself; Tiarnan had forgotten all about the sparse bits and pieces he had collected in his wandering, but it came flooding back to him now in his moment of need. "Name," he implored as he rose up again, fierce on the outside while internalizing his fear and doubt. Perhaps if he could label this stranger as something more than a great white bear, he would have something to work with.