Haunted Wood this is an old story, with an old beginning

Sometimes a victory is never certain. The life of a mercenary is often short. But, to give you a better possibility, aim for the joints. Knees, elbows. Cripple them - or find a way out if you don't desire to die that day. Sometimes the man has to realize that he doesn't take his own advice very well. Vengeance was headstrong and he couldn't remember the last time he turned tail and chose to leave a fight rather than tempt fate. The meeting of the Moonspear wolves after Alison's attack on the white woman was perhaps the only one he could - but they were severely outnumbered.  

Even he was not stupid enough. 

If you know you're going to battle someone better than you, preparations are wise. Poisons, traps, bringing a partner to outnumber your opponent might be an idea. As she snaps at the empty air next to his jaws, this was when he realizes she had clued in on his plan. She was indeed a great warrior in the making. With that he swatted at the ground, lifting a plume of dirt to try and blind the girl in a surprise action that she may not have thought of previously. Fighting dirty is always an option. If your opponent is dead, there is no shame in it.