[Balthus is quick to turn his back to Thoma, pulling his fingers in tight to ready his fists— his claws haven't materialized just yet, but he doesn't necessarily need them, unless whatever is coming at them is going to be heavily armored. Given the warnings about the local wildlife, he highly doubts that, and he figures he can weather a few teeth.]

There's at least two.

[He can pick up that much from their movement, though his searching gaze has yet to find any sign of them.]

Back-to-back, don't let 'em sneak up on us!

[No sooner does he say so than one of the creatures comes bounding at him out of the brush, fangs bared, and even as it leaps, he drops down and throws his weight against the incoming attack, sending it flying backwards— though not for long. It's agile, quick to right itself and get back on its feet.]

Okay, this is not what I imagined these things looking like—