Grouse Thicket Queen of Diamonds

Wanna determine the outcome through dice roll? :)

      She rose gracefully and padded towards him until they were but a few feet apart. He did not back away, but stood there, tall and ready, his face expressionless, stoic and impassive and his eyes, bright but guarded, assessed her build while she assessed him, and determined that she would be quick on her feet and agile, and him, despite his faith in his speed, knew that the possibility of him being slightly slower than the female were high given the fact that he did seem more muscly than she was. That meant the soldier had to play his cards right if he wanted to win. But if he lost, it wouldn't mean much, given the fact that this was a spar rather than an actual fight, but it would be a lesson to him and would give him an incentive to push himself until he improved. To be honest, a part of him knew his skills were rather rusty, so if anything, he was counting on muscle memory and that he was still, hopefully, pretty fit.

      The wraith did not speak, but greeted him silently and settled into a stance, her eyes fixed on him. Nico relaxed into his own combative position, hammered into him by the high ranks of his former military pack. He watched her lightly, but carefully and with precision as he flattened his ashen ears against his skull and lowered his snout to protect his throat. Then, Nico began circling her, and he leapt forward, a blur of black, cream and silver. He feinted a strike for her forepaws then sought purchase on her left shoulder. It was a spar, so if he found his mark, he would hold down hard, but not hard enough to draw blood. That is, unless her idea of a spar meant that they had to get injuries.

      Either ways, Nico was game. He'd made his move, now it was time to see how she reacted to it.