First of all, the starting area, the circle of stones has never been any sort of safe place, and generally Greylings very often come running right from the moment the player is dropped there. This is not a new thing.

2nd... You start the game with a torch.... the Greylings are made of wood and are scared of the torch.... Just equipping the torch causes the Greylings to stop attacking you directly and instead run around crazy trying to avoid the flame... You can use the torch as a weapon as a few hits causes them to burn up and die.

Dead Greylings drop resin upon death so use that and make another torch so you have backups.