There was a long second, after she shot the firearm, where the earth seemed to hold its breath and stand still. The young woman watched the doe sputter, her legs drawing her a few leaping steps after her companions as they bolted away, before she fell and lay panting on the ground. Another second went by, Sterling and Katherine watching in silent anticipation, and then the deer fell completely still as its last breath escaped its silken muzzle. No sooner than the doe had gone still Katherine was already slinking forward, rifle still poised close to her shoulder in case of a lively- and likely hungry- predator nearby. She had to be quick and make use of her kill before something else smelt it and wanted to do the same, albeit in a much less efficient and long-term manner than she.<br/><br/>A few feet away and moving to crouch near the dead animal, the slender woman suddenly fell stock still at the short and clipped growl of her companion. He was still poised at her heels, but his gaze was narrowed and his teeth were on full display. With a subtle jerk, the brunette turned, wheeling to face another human who was slinking out from behind a few abandoned vehicles and nearby foliage. They also had a canine companion, one who was of similar size to Sterling. Gun still steady in her hands, and now directed at the other woman, Katherine eyed the shotgun trained on her before uttering a short command to Sterling. If anything happened, she wanted him to be okay, above anything else. "Behave. Be<i> nice.</i>" The look he shot her was one of utter disbelief if she'd ever seen such an expression on a canine's face before. Coming to stand beside her deer, anxiety twisting in her stomach, Katherine inhaled deeply. Sterling had quieted, but his eyes were still firmly narrowed on the other encroaching pair opposite of them.<br/><br/>"I take it you were trying to hunt, too?" The question is more to address how welcoming the other woman is to strangers than to actually receive an answer. If she wasn't out here looking for food, she was likely exploring, or simply trying to survive. Like every other sad bastard in this forsaken world. And it didn't matter to Katherine as long as they worked out their differences and didn't harm one another. It'd been disgustingly long since she'd seen another human, and for a short moment, she wondered what she even looked like after this long of living off of rainwater and bathing in rivers. Even still, appearances didn't matter one bit to the brunette. Things being as they were, the only thing she cared about was keeping Sterling alive and cared for. And if offering this stranger some portion of her kill kept her from attacking them for it, Katherine would be all the wiser to just split up the meat and be on her way.<br/><br/>Still awaiting an answer, her gun hadn't been removed from her shoulder, though instinct urged her to set it aside and get to cleaning her kill. The stronger, louder instinct, however, was firm enough in its demand to keep an eye and a weapon poised on the unconfirmed threat that she didn't move as she spoke again. "I'll give you a flank and a shoulder if you can cut them up yourself. But I need the rest."