It's the gun that makes contact, and by the sound of it, it's a fairly decent blow at that. It doesn't seem to terrible inconvenience her attacker, however. In fact, for all that she's just been all but knocked out of the air, Nepeta is back on her feet within a matter of moments. At close range she looks a little less human as well, for what it may be worth. True, the dim light may make her horns look like ears, but they're certainly nothing that belong on any human, to say nothing of the nasty looking claws she still has extended - four per hand.

(These are, in truth, not actually her claws, but rather clawed gloves, but it's probably hard to tell in the dim light of the cave.)

Perhaps better yet is the fact that no further attacks are forthcoming. Nepeta's not actually interested in a proper strife, and thus the opening strikes are there will be (barring any offer of violence from Helen herself). Instead, she offers a grin before speaking again, this time in (somewhat accented) English.

"Is efurryone here like you?" There's no accusation her voice. Just honest curiosity and a certain amount of what might possibly be enthusiasm.