Animals make speed initially, outside the old city (9)

'animals' is the definition.
('creature' can be a synonym of 'animal')

'make speed initially outside the old city' is the wordplay.
'make' becomes 'create' (synonyms).
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
'outside' indicates putting letters inside (some letters go outside others).
'the old city' becomes 'ur' (ancient city state).
The initial letter of 'speed' is 's'.
'create'+'s'='creates'
'creates' placed around 'ur' is 'CREATURES'.