Chronicles of a Dark Refrigerator
By 별하
A kitchen devoid of people becomes an operational map every night. The unlit space, the heavy refrigerator, is dark and majestic, like a bunker in a war zone. Above and below it, small animals move silently but deliberately. Rats, weasels, hamsters, and a furry creature I don't recognize. They have no name or nationality. They have only one goal. Prey.
“Be back in three seconds or you'll be left alone, Luca!”
Luca, a chubby hamster, was on his third run. In his tiny world, a trip through the refrigerator door to the steaming dairy compartment was a scouting mission. He bit off a piece of delivered cheese and retreated under the watchful eye of Felix, the squirrel trainer.
At that moment-
“Growl...”
A low cry rang out from beneath the kitchen floor. From the shadows, a pack of weasels, the Darkclaws, appeared. Their leader, Slate, spoke with a glare.
“That cheese, you didn't forget the rules of common areas, did you?”
Luca flinched. The cheese was definitely a common area. But there was also the rule that first dibs meant ownership. Felix stepped forward.
“Slate, speaking of rules, I also remember that you took more than you were supposed to on your last mission.”
The situation at hand. Two scouts from the rat pack Thornpaw watched the scene from the doorframe. They whispered.
"It's on. The refrigerator war."
The squabble didn't last long. The weasel horde charged in a flash, and Felix's squad retreated behind the dumpster. But Luca wouldn't let go of the cheese. He ducked his tiny body into the crack under the fridge and muttered, "One day, we're going to take over this kitchen.
“One day we'll have this kitchen for ourselves.”
There was a lightless darkness in his eyes. But it wasn't fear, it was determination. And that night, a note fell out of the fridge.
"Inspection scheduled for tomorrow. Please organize the kitchen. -Custodian."
The little beings didn't know that in their cold war, a greater threat loomed.
The war in this dark kitchen was only the prelude.
-
character sheet
🐹 Luca
Race: Hamster
Role: Novice Scout / Protagonist Position
Appearance: Chubby, always has something in each cheek. Light beige fur with brown stripes. Eyes are large and glassy, but sometimes harden into a look of determination.
Clothing/Possessions: Vest made from old corks (claims to be bulletproof), grappling hook made from paper clips, backpack made from straws
Personality: A timid idealist who tries to be courageous, even though she's scared. Believes that "small actions change the world. Curious, and prefers to live by definitions rather than rules.
Quirk: He's a “smeller” who can spot cheese better than anyone else, but he doesn't know it yet.
🐿 Felix
Race: Squirrel
Role: The ‘general’ of the mouse world, Luca's superior
Appearance: Long and lithe, with ashy brown fur and pointed ears. His right ear is slightly torn (a scar from a previous mission).
Clothing/Possessions: Gloves and belt made of woven wire and barding, with a tattered button slung across his back as a shield. Wears a piece of magnifying glass over one eye.
Personality: A rational, cautious strategist who values data and experience over emotion. But cares deeply for his subordinates.
Quirks: Survivor of both the Fridge and Trash Can wars. Dreams of building a “base” on top of a refrigerator before he dies.
🦡 Slate
Race: Weasel
Role: Leader of the ‘Darkclaw’ pack, antihero
Appearance: Black, sleek fur, eyes small and piercing, always with a menacing glow. Dark enough to blend in with the kitchen floor. Moves with the speed of a ghost.
Costume/Possessions: Knee braces made from broken earphone cords, magnetized pieces of metal wrapped around his hands. A piece of string is wrapped around his neck.
Personality: Cold, calculating, and obsessed with power. But internally, he has a philosophy that says beings like him have a right to live. A mix of survival instinct and community leadership.
Quirks: The only animal that remembers being touched by humans, which has led to a deep-seated hostility towards them.
🐭 Neo
Race: Vole
Role: Thornpaw's spy, intelligence
Appearance: Small, thin, grayish fur. Features slender, rounded ears. Facial expression is always somber and indifferent.
Clothing/Possessions: Scout goggles with shards of glass as lenses, an old watchband wrapped around his waist. Ties a piece of needle to his claw.
Personality: Observant and soft-spoken. But can offer sharp advice when necessary. Tries to remain neutral, but sometimes helps Luca.
Quirks: Memorizes the entire kitchen layout and has the ability to predict human schedules.
🦔 Mora
Race: Hedgehog
Role: 'Healer' of the base under the fridge
Appearance: Round, pointy body, slightly overweight. Fur is light brown with a slightly upturned nose.
Costume/Possessions: Headband made of used tea bag strips, first aid pouch made of cotton and thread, bandages on the soles of his feet.
Personality: Affectionate and patient, values all life. Exists as a symbol of reconciliation and mediation in the midst of conflict.
Quirks: Has “senses” using electromagnetic waves from refrigerators. Can predict the weather and refrigerator operation, giving strategists vital clues.
-
location
🧊 1. Refrigerator - The “White Fortress”
Overview: The center of the kitchen and the key to all survival. It acts like an “isolated castle”, full of moisture and nutrition on the inside, slippery, hard and heavily guarded on the outside.
Features:
Internal entry routes: A gap in the rubberized packing under the refrigerator door. Only small species can get in and out.
Basement (vegetable compartment): The safest, but the temperature is low and the food is limited.
Upper level (dairy section): Rare prey present, but dangerous to access. Some creatures call it "Eden.
Event point: Every time the refrigerator door is opened, “Operation Sunshine” unfolds. Time is short, competition is fierce.
🪵 2. Behind the Dumpster - “Shadow Base”
Overview: The temporary home base for Felix, Luca, and the Squirrel/Hamster coalition. The space behind the dumpster is damp and dark, but of high strategic value.
Features:
Compound hideout made of thick plastic, rags, and wrapping paper.
Serves as a supply base, accumulating plastic bottle caps, chicken bones, and other supplies.
Narrow aisles make entry difficult for larger weasels.
Incident Points: Internal supply distribution issues, external threat of Darkclaw infiltration.
🧽 3. Under the sink - “The Path of Greenery”
Overview: High-risk area, rich in moisture but full of mold and scale. Known as a “promised land” among kitchen animals.
Characterized by:
cat paw prints and human cleaner tracks.
Some molds have medicinal properties and are harvested by the Mora.
Pipe cracks serve as secret passageways for quick travel.
Incident Points: Rumored to have a passageway through here that connects to the ‘human zone’.
🧂 4. Condiment Drawer - “Sanctuary of Silence”
Overview: An old condiment storage compartment that humans rarely look into. Serene and deserted, but the food is dry and salty.
Features:
Serves as a “document vault” to preserve knowledge and records. Contains old post-it notes, receipts, labeled paper, etc.
Rumor has it that Luca once found his long-lost brother.
Case Point: A manhunt is underway to find something Slate has hidden in this space.
🔩 5. The Chasm Under the Refrigerator - “The Chasm of Eternity”
Overview: A place where the air never stops flowing. An unknown space that only the small and light can enter. The place where Luca hid the last cheese.
Characterized by:
Filled with dust and static, but little outside intrusion.
Due to its isolation, mentally weak beings cannot stay long.
Event Point: Luca grows in this place, overcoming his will and loneliness.
⚠️ 6. Entire Kitchen - “Time of Cleansing” (Crisis Scenario)
Overview: “Time of Upheaval” where humans begin to clean the kitchen, organize groceries, etc.
Features:
Human hands, brooms, and mops spell disaster for the animals.
After the Time of Purification, the composition of the zone may change.
Rare items appear and many refugees are displaced.
Event Point: Later in the story, the caretaker's note becomes an actual “cleanup operation,” leading to the Great Escape or Great Alliance narrative.
Story Content
A kitchen devoid of people becomes an operational map every night.
The unlit space, the heavy refrigerator, is dark and majestic, like a bunker in a war zone.
Above and below it, small animals move silently but deliberately.
Rats, weasels, hamsters, and a furry creature I don't recognize.
They have no name or nationality.
They have only one goal.
Prey.
“Be back in three seconds or you'll be left alone, Luca!”
Luca, a chubby hamster, was on his third run.
In his tiny world, a trip through the refrigerator door to the steaming dairy compartment was a scouting mission.
He bit off a piece of delivered cheese and retreated under the watchful eye of Felix, the squirrel trainer.
At that moment-
“Growl...”
A low cry rang out from beneath the kitchen floor.
From the shadows, a pack of weasels, the Darkclaws, appeared.
Their leader, Slate, spoke with a glare.
“That cheese, you didn't forget the rules of common areas, did you?”
Luca flinched.
The cheese was definitely a common area.
But there was also the rule that first dibs meant ownership.
Felix stepped forward.
“Slate, speaking of rules, I also remember that you took more than you were supposed to on your last mission.”
The situation at hand.
Two scouts from the rat pack Thornpaw watched the scene from the doorframe.
They whispered.
"It's on.
The refrigerator war."
The squabble didn't last long.
The weasel horde charged in a flash, and Felix's squad retreated behind the dumpster.
-
character sheet
🐹 Luca
Race: Hamster
Role: Novice Scout / Protagonist Position
Appearance: Chubby, always has something in each cheek.
Light beige fur with brown stripes.
Eyes are large and glassy, but sometimes harden into a look of determination.
Clothing/Possessions: Vest made from old corks (claims to be bulletproof), grappling hook made from paper clips, backpack made from straws
Personality: A timid idealist who tries to be courageous, even though she's scared.
Believes that "small actions change the world.
Curious, and prefers to live by definitions rather than rules.
Quirk: He's a “smeller” who can spot cheese better than anyone else, but he doesn't know it yet.
🐿 Felix
Race: Squirrel
Role: The ‘general’ of the mouse world, Luca's superior
Appearance: Long and lithe, with ashy brown fur and pointed ears.
His right ear is slightly torn (a scar from a previous mission).
Clothing/Possessions: Gloves and belt made of woven wire and barding, with a tattered button slung across his back as a shield.
Wears a piece of magnifying glass over one eye.
Personality: A rational, cautious strategist who values data and experience over emotion.
But cares deeply for his subordinates.
Quirks: Survivor of both the Fridge and Trash Can wars.
Dreams of building a “base” on top of a refrigerator before he dies.
🦡 Slate
Race: Weasel
Role: Leader of the ‘Darkclaw’ pack, antihero
Appearance: Black, sleek fur, eyes small and piercing, always with a menacing glow.
Dark enough to blend in with the kitchen floor.
Moves with the speed of a ghost.
Costume/Possessions: Knee braces made from broken earphone cords, magnetized pieces of metal wrapped around his hands.
A piece of string is wrapped around his neck.
Personality: Cold, calculating, and obsessed with power.
But internally, he has a philosophy that says beings like him have a right to live.
A mix of survival instinct and community leadership.
Quirks: The only animal that remembers being touched by humans, which has led to a deep-seated hostility towards them.
🐭 Neo
Race: Vole
Role: Thornpaw's spy, intelligence
Appearance: Small, thin, grayish fur.
Features slender, rounded ears.
Facial expression is always somber and indifferent.
Clothing/Possessions: Scout goggles with shards of glass as lenses, an old watchband wrapped around his waist.
Ties a piece of needle to his claw.
Personality: Observant and soft-spoken.
But can offer sharp advice when necessary.
Tries to remain neutral, but sometimes helps Luca.
Quirks: Memorizes the entire kitchen layout and has the ability to predict human schedules.
🦔 Mora
Race: Hedgehog
Role: 'Healer' of the base under the fridge
Appearance: Round, pointy body, slightly overweight.
Fur is light brown with a slightly upturned nose.
Costume/Possessions: Headband made of used tea bag strips, first aid pouch made of cotton and thread, bandages on the soles of his feet.
Personality: Affectionate and patient, values all life.
Exists as a symbol of reconciliation and mediation in the midst of conflict.
Quirks: Has “senses” using electromagnetic waves from refrigerators.
Can predict the weather and refrigerator operation, giving strategists vital clues.
-
location
🧊 1.
Refrigerator - The “White Fortress”
Overview: The center of the kitchen and the key to all survival.
It acts like an “isolated castle”, full of moisture and nutrition on the inside, slippery, hard and heavily guarded on the outside.
Features:
Internal entry routes: A gap in the rubberized packing under the refrigerator door.
Only small species can get in and out.
Basement (vegetable compartment): The safest, but the temperature is low and the food is limited.
Upper level (dairy section): Rare prey present, but dangerous to access.
Some creatures call it "Eden.
Event point: Every time the refrigerator door is opened, “Operation Sunshine” unfolds.
Time is short, competition is fierce.
🪵 2.
Behind the Dumpster - “Shadow Base”
Overview: The temporary home base for Felix, Luca, and the Squirrel/Hamster coalition.
The space behind the dumpster is damp and dark, but of high strategic value.
Features:
Compound hideout made of thick plastic, rags, and wrapping paper.
Serves as a supply base, accumulating plastic bottle caps, chicken bones, and other supplies.
Narrow aisles make entry difficult for larger weasels.
Incident Points: Internal supply distribution issues, external threat of Darkclaw infiltration.
🧽 3.
Under the sink - “The Path of Greenery”
Overview: High-risk area, rich in moisture but full of mold and scale.
Known as a “promised land” among kitchen animals.
Characterized by:
cat paw prints and human cleaner tracks.
Some molds have medicinal properties and are harvested by the Mora.
Pipe cracks serve as secret passageways for quick travel.
Incident Points: Rumored to have a passageway through here that connects to the ‘human zone’.
🧂 4.
Condiment Drawer - “Sanctuary of Silence”
Overview: An old condiment storage compartment that humans rarely look into.
Serene and deserted, but the food is dry and salty.
Features:
Serves as a “document vault” to preserve knowledge and records.
Contains old post-it notes, receipts, labeled paper, etc.
Rumor has it that Luca once found his long-lost brother.
Case Point: A manhunt is underway to find something Slate has hidden in this space.
🔩 5.
The Chasm Under the Refrigerator - “The Chasm of Eternity”
Overview: A place where the air never stops flowing.
An unknown space that only the small and light can enter.
The place where Luca hid the last cheese.
Characterized by:
Filled with dust and static, but little outside intrusion.
Due to its isolation, mentally weak beings cannot stay long.
Event Point: Luca grows in this place, overcoming his will and loneliness.
⚠️ 6.
Entire Kitchen - “Time of Cleansing” (Crisis Scenario)
Overview: “Time of Upheaval” where humans begin to clean the kitchen, organize groceries, etc.
Features:
Human hands, brooms, and mops spell disaster for the animals.
After the Time of Purification, the composition of the zone may change.
Rare items appear and many refugees are displaced.
Event Point: Later in the story, the caretaker's note becomes an actual “cleanup operation,” leading to the Great Escape or Great Alliance narrative.
