A way back, after a pack animal with some protective ornaments (7)
I believe the answer is:
amulets
'some protective ornaments' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'a way back after a pack animal' is the wordplay.
'way back' becomes 'ts' ('st' abbreviation for street, written backwards).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a pack animal' becomes 'mule' (I've seen this in another clue).
'ts' after 'mule' is 'mulets'.
'a'+'mulets'='AMULETS'
'with' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for amulets that I've seen before include "Ornaments worn as charms against evil" , "Lucky charms" .)