The late afternoon sun stained the long, parched grasses of the field a rich golden. Two figures moved through it, following the narrow strip of bald path that wound its way from one side to the other. They’d come from the shadow-dappled innards of the woodland, and the sudden change to dry, blinding heat was not a welcome one.

One figure moved with confidence, if not ease, and strode on ahead while the other lingered back.

Realising that the footsteps behind them had stopped, the first figure turned to the second, and saw that they’d come to a halt.

“What the hell are you doing?” he called out. The second figure squinted at him through the sunlight.

“Feel sick,” he said, as he took an unsteady step back.

The first figure sighed, and ran his hands across his face as though trying to wipe away his frustration.

“Let’s keep moving,” he said

“Where are we?” the second figure moaned.

“I told you five minutes ago!” the first figure snapped.

The second figure frowned, and gazed about as though there may be clues to help him remember hidden in his surroundings. His gaze came back to the first figure as blank as it had started.

“I don’t remember,” he said.

The first figure sighed again, deeper, and more deliberate this time.

“Well, I did,” he said, the forced tone of patience cracking his voice. The second figure didn’t argue, but stayed standing where he was. With a hiss, the first figure turned to continue along the path, his steps transformed into quick-paced stomps.

“I feel sick!” the second figure called out after him. He got no response.

“Hey! Hey! I said I feel sick. I don’t like it here. It’s making me feel sick!”

“Keep up then,” the first figure called out. “It’s better again once we’re out of this field.”

The second figure grudgingly began to catch up to the first, one hand slung across his forehead as a shade, the other curled around the dip of his belly.

“I’m so hungry,” he said, as he fell in behind his companion, his step taking on an erratic weave as he slowed from a stumbling jog to a walk.

“I know,” the first figure said. “The sooner we get to where we’re going, the sooner you can eat.”

“Where are we going?”

“I told you before, didn’t I?”

“I forgot. I forget things, you know...They just sort of go, especially when I’m hungry. Things happen, but they don’t stay in my head, so I forget that they ever happened, and then people shout at me, even though they know I forget. It’s not my fault-”

“I know,” the first figure said, his voice softening to a low, soothing calm. “We’re going home.”

The second figure stopped, and made a small choking sound.

“I mean my home,” the first quickly corrected himself. “There’ll be food there. You’ll feel better.”

The second figure started walking again, a new-found assertion in his step.

“We’re going to eat?”

“Yes.”

“Tonight?” the second figure said hopefully. The first glanced over his shoulder to see the pathetic hope in his companion’s eyes, and nodded.

“Promise?” the second figure said. The first figure allowed themselves a small smile.

“Promise.”