Walking slower works for him. At least he hopes it's the right decision when one of the creatures - keeping to the shadows away from the light cast by Victor's headlamp - darts in front of them. Gritting his teeth, Cloud tries not to think about failing... but it's hard.

"This works," he says it softly, quietly, just to add something other than the noises from the not-quite-threatening company they've definitely picked up by now, and turns around, resisting the urge to blindly fire to try and chase them away. Four or five... maybe. It's hard to tell.

He wishes Zack was here, but it's probably better he's still in Nibelheim; someone needs to keep an eye on Sephiroth and try and get him out of the basement.]

"... think they've gotten a little warier since the start, at least... so maybe we'll get to the checkpoint before they get brave enough." He swallows and kicks, spattering water in their trail and sending a hissing creature backwards. "At least, they don't got magic."

Could, after all, be worse than just claws and teeth. They're not even venomous.