Creature in need of a breather after climbing a hill (9)
I believe the answer is:
alligator
'creature' is the definition.
(alligator is a kind of creature)
'a breather after climbing a hill' is the wordplay.
'a breather' becomes 'gill' (part of a fish which breathes).
'after' becomes 'a' (this could be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'climbing' says the letters should be written in reverse (in a down clue, letters climb up).
'hill' becomes 'tor' (tor is a kind of hill).
'gill'+'a'='gilla'
'gilla' back-to-front is 'allig'.
'allig'+'a'+'tor'='ALLIGATOR'
'in need of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for alligator that I've seen before include "Broad-snouted snapper?" , "Croc's close relative" , "Reptile akin to 1" , "What can go with pear" , "Large semi-aquatic reptile" .)