'Indeed, as Tamara say, that does not exactly clear up anything.   I still have no idea what you mean by other forms, precisely, but I won't argue with you.   I know you won't outright kill me, so what would you have me do?" he asks to the large tiger.  He really was just beginning to think that it was expected he be 'killed' in body so that he would reform smaller.  But Bitsa had powers here that he seemed to have nowhere else, or so Fire thought, and it would not do to start assuming.