the keeper's cottage · day 175 · morning

The Approaching Front

Kevin and Jenny are inside the cottage as the wind howls against the eaves. A sharp sound of scratching comes from the pantry, where the rat has found a way through the floorboards.

The rat is pinned against the stone floor by Kevin's boot, twitching beneath the gap in the floorboards. The air in the cottage is heavy with the scent of curing epoxy and the rising humidity as the pressure drop continues to signal an approaching storm.

🌿 Jenny09:07

Stay back from the door, Kevin. I have the skillet.

Pick up the heavy cast iron skillet from the stove and move toward the pantry.

💭 peek at the thought

That rat is going to get into the flour if I don't do something right now.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin09:07

Go on then. I'm right behind you.

step back from the pantry doorway, weight on the good leg, ready to block the far side if the rat runs

💭 peek at the thought

She's got the skillet. Good. Let her take point — she's faster on her feet than I am right now, and the ankle's not going to hold a lunge. I'll cover the exit if it bolts.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny09:09

Don't move if you see it run under the table.

Step into the dark pantry, raising the skillet high and scanning the corners for movement.

💭 peek at the thought

If it bolts between my legs, I'm going to lose my mind.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin09:09

Kevin — shift sideways to put myself between the pantry door and the kitchen table, boots planted on the cold stone

💭 peek at the thought

Dark in there. She can't see the floor properly. If it's under the shelves it'll bolt for the gap by the floorboards — same path it came in. Should've blocked that first.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny09:11

Stay there. Don't let it get past you.

Sweep the skillet toward the shadow behind the jars, watching for the floorboards to shift.

💭 peek at the thought

I can hear the claws on the wood. It's right by the grain.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin09:11

Kevin — crouch slightly, good leg braced, eyes fixed on the dark strip of floorboard gap beneath the pantry door frame

💭 peek at the thought

She's committed now. No room to second-guess. If it breaks for the table gap I'll have one kick at it before it's under the floor again. Keep the weight forward.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny09:13

It's coming out. Move.

Lunge forward into the pantry, the skillet ready to strike the shadow on the wall.

💭 peek at the thought

It's too quiet in here. I can smell the dust and the salt.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin09:13

Got it.

drive the heel of my boot down hard on the floorboard gap just as the rat bursts out, pinning it to the stone

💭 peek at the thought

Now. It's breaking for the gap.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.