Golden Glade Queen of Spades

Charley could sense it in his soul, it seemed, when he was needed: luck or perhaps fate pointed him in the Queen's direction, and that way he charged. Something was wrong, and as he neared a break in the trees he could hear it, the growl of his goddess warning off someone. When he caught sight of them, the pale stranger was crouching to spring. If Charley had anything to do with it, not a claw would be laid on his one and only. He was too far to attack, but he could defend well enough, jumping in front of Aspen and taking Aerowyns bite full to the shoulder. 
It hurt, yes, it hurt like fucking hell. Blood oozed into his fur and stained it deep red, but he bit through the pain: literally, spinning his neck towards her and spinning as if chasing his tail to back the woman away from Aspen. He snapped his jaws and aimed for the strangers - no, enemies - shoulder. If he got his hit, he would do his damnest to rip and tear until she backed away. It was easy to let himself snap, to go for blood: other than the constant travel and tedious settling work, there was little in his thoughts to push away the fact that his best friend, as he would always see Reek Hiram, was across the world and may never see him again. 
             "You do not touch my Queen, peasant!"