Trying and failing at tying the reins to the tree, Jasper nearly dropped them completely when Kate told him to stop. Some of his frustration was replaced with guilt as he watched Kate tie, and then untie the reins. When she handed them back to him, he followed what she had done and stepped back from the tree. It was than that he noticed the two men approaching them. Ears perked, Jasper watched them approach, feeling Kate grip his shirt from behind. He immedietly recognized Marcus from his first trip into town, not easily forgetting a man like him. His eyes never left the man as he stepped closer, stopping about a sword's length from the pair, his friend just behind him.<br/><br/>Jasper watched as Marcus laughed.<br/><br/>"Come now, Katie. Is that any way to greet your future husband?" He laughed again, eyeing Kate from where she stood behind Jasper before giving her a wink. "And I see you brought your little pet along." He sneered at Jasper, earning a glare and a baring of fangs.<br/><br/>Jasper tensed as Marcus stepped closer, ready to spring to action with a moment's notice. He could hear his heart pounding, preparing for a fight, his ears flattened, his tail flicking from side to side, and his fangs bared at the opponent. Marcus, either oblivious to all of this or choosing to ignore it, made to step around the fighter, to pull Kate to him but Jasper moved with him, stepping in the way.<br/><br/>"Kate dear, why don't you call of your guard dog, or should I say cat." Marcus shot a glare of his own at Jasper. He was a little taller than Jasper was, letting him look down on the slave. "We wouldn't want any mishaps." He said this more so at Jasper. A low growl could be heard from the fighter.<br/><br/>Reaching for Kate's arm, Marcus felt his own get pulled behind his back and reached instinctively for his knife. Jasper held the man by his wrist with enough force to break if he wanted.<br/><br/>"Let go of me!" Marcus shouted, swinging his free arm around with his blade. He caught Jasper just below the eye with it, leaving a small cut that began bleeding almost immediately. With a snarl, Jasper caught the other arm and twisted it, forcing Marcus to drop his knife into the snow. A moment of panic passed over the man's face and he looked to Kate.<br/><br/>"Kate! Get him off!" Marcus struggled in Jasper's grip, only resulting in having his wrists gripped tighter. Edmund moved forward to help his friend, but froze when Jasper growled.