He desires to so he can reunite with jacks tribe for the common good and survive, even though he is not fond of the idea of savagery
Ralph desires to stay with the savages at Castle Rock because he believes it is crucial for him to assert his authority and maintain control over the group. He wants to show that he is not afraid and to keep the boys focused on being rescued rather than descending into chaos. Additionally, Ralph wants to challenge the power dynamics within the group and prevent Jack from gaining complete control.
To get Ralph out of the tangled undergrowth, the savages smoke him out by setting the jungle on fire.
The tribe of savages steals Piggy's glasses from Ralph. These glasses are used to start fires in the story.
He wishes to remind Jack and his tribe that they are really just English schoolboys and not a tribe of murderous savages.
The savages plan to catch Ralph by setting the island on fire to smoke him out. The irony is that in their pursuit to capture him, they unintentionally attract the attention of a naval officer who rescues Ralph, ultimately ending their savagery and restoring order.
Ralph say this when he has called his last meeting and is talking to Samneric and Piggy. When he mentioned going to confront Jack and his tribe at Castle Rock he said that they should go as they were. Samneric pointed out that Jack and his tribe would be "painted up" to which Ralph replied, "well we won't be, we're not savages and being rescued isn't a game."
Piggy and Ralph are in a last attempt to stop the savagery at the Castle Rock, where the savages have camped. Roger is atop the castle as the others argue, and Roger pivots a lever that causes a boulder to fall, and it falls onto Piggy, shattering the conch and knocking him over the edge to his death.
One important example of this 'protecting' as you say, is after Piggy dies and Ralph is alone. Sam and Eric are tortured and forced into joining Jack's tribe and they are guarding the pathway up to Castle Rock. Ralph sneaks up and talks to Samneric (as they are referred to) Apart from that important conversation the savages usually protect the entrance with their spears. Two savages at a time. Samneric are scared, 'gibbering' as Golding writes, and Samneric are new to the tribe so they either don't want spears, or Jack doesn't trust them. Hope it helped :)
Ralph has been told that Jack is hunting for him. He has been told that Jack has a stick that is sharpened at both ends.
Ralph says, "Suppose we go, looking like we used to, washed and hair brushed... After all we aren't savages really and being rescued isn't a game." When Samneric point out that Jack and his tribe will be painted Ralph replies, "Well we won't be painted... because we aren't savages."
Ralph fights with Jack. (epic)
Jack believes that Ralph is a poor chief because he is too focused on rules and order, rather than embracing the freedom and excitement of hunting and living like savages. Jack also feels that Ralph does not possess the strong leadership qualities needed to command the respect and loyalty of the other boys on the island.
Ralph, Sam and Eric, and Piggy = To tend to the fire and get rescued. Jack and the Savages = To have fun