Here's a breakdown of different possibilities:
* Stories focused on objects or concepts: A story could follow the journey of a single raindrop, describing its movement and transformations from cloud to ocean. There's no character in the traditional sense, but the raindrop acts as a focal point, experiencing "events." This is close to a story, but arguably leans more towards a descriptive piece.
* Abstract narratives: Some experimental literature might present a narrative built around abstract concepts like time, space, or emotions. These might lack identifiable characters, but they still tell a story through the unfolding of events or ideas.
* Nature documentaries (arguably): While not fictional stories, nature documentaries depict events in the natural world. While animals might be presented, the focus is often on the events themselves rather than individual animal "characters" with personalities and motivations. These are narratives, but again, we may question if they fit the definition of a "story" in the same way a fictional work does.
The core problem: The concept of "story" often implies agency, conflict, or change. Even if it's a raindrop falling, there's a sense of journey and transformation. To have a "story" without *any* element that can be considered a character, even implicitly, pushes the definition to its limits and arguably moves into the realm of pure description or philosophical exploration rather than narrative. It becomes more of a descriptive poem or philosophical essay than a story.