Even with a rifle (she holds her staff like one, seems a good comparison) i'd still be freaking out with something like a mountain cat or kangaroo being that close.
So what was even scary about that? She had the magic to take it down and the children of that clan are able to take one down easily with a thrown spear... Why didn't they just grow and reclaim that area? I assume there is something else there, because otherwise that doesn't make sense.
It's probably like most animals where even if one isn't much of a threat, a whole pack could be devastating.
Also, they were prepared for it, and it was distracted chasing the MC, making an easier target. The one in the ruins showed that that can be much sneakier and are probably dangerous if it catches someone off guard.