[ He flinches at that, because... Well... He hadn't thought. He exhales, shoulders sagging, but he mans up and maintains eye contact with Daryl; even in the face of his fury (and it was both mighty and justified). ]

I don't have to be in for days... just before sundown that night... and I would just hunt the day after.

[His brows knit and he shifts, but still doesn't look away or step back. He couldn't fault the other man for demanding answers, nor did he take the posturing in a particularly personal way; he'd earned it, after all. ]

And I hadn't considered that the door wouldn't hold... back home it wasn't an issue. I would go out into the desert and hunt until I exhausted myself, but I don't have that option here unless you want me to play chew toy on the local zombie population.

[ He falls silent and when he speaks next, he still sounds calm, but there is a plaintive quality to it. ]

I'm sorry. I should've come forward sooner, but I didn't. [ He exhales sharply, his bangs puffing out of his eyes. ]

I'm open to suggestions... the absolute last thing I want is for any harm to come to anyone else here. We're in enough shit as it is...