Author's Note:

Uno was a landlocked country dotted with forests and luscious grass fields. The nation's climate could have been compared to that of our Great Britain's, with many rain and thunderstorms rolling through the countryside on a day-to-day basis. A Christian country, as was Canvhis, their neighbors to the west, they practiced a belief similar to Catholicism, though their pagan traditions from thousands of years ago and history blended on occasion with their faith, creating a unique denomination. Technology in Uno was limited, as the farther one lived from a large city, the less advanced one became, ranging from sophistication to an almost medieval tone. Nevertheless, the vulpine race, the race which called Uno home, was a very intelligent race, using the little resources they had to the best of their ability. The Unonian tongue resembled that of a Latin-Slavic style and has few similarities to the Careinian language. The land of Uno had some influence from their Careinian neighbors, for they lived under Careinian rule for thousands of years until 1267, when Uno finally gained independence. The Careinians were known for their dominance and desire to control other peoples, while the Unonians were known for their ability to never give up when attempting to complete a task. These traits were essential for each country's survival. Throughout this epic, translations and proper wordage are used when necessary. In proper names, the "j" is replaced by a "y" and vis-versa. In addition, for clarity, the vulpine race adopted a Mc- prefix to their last names, while the Careinians adopted a -ski suffix to their names. Occasionally, blending occurred, but these rules apply unless stated otherwise.

Prologue

The following is an excerpt from Todd Allensko McCasle's journal. A lover for history, he wrote to ease his fears.

The year is 1974. The battle-scarred country of Uno is still in the midst of an ongoing, bloody civil war. The war has loomed on for twenty-six long years now, and the battles have shown no signs of anyone gaining an advantage, but I fear that the Mafian forces are making great advances. Uno is painted in blood, colored in despair, and spattered with sadness. The rain moves in to wash the blood away on occasion, but it does not stop the slaughtering of innocent people and destruction of lives. The skirmishes are brutal, as fighting from both sides are intense and bloody. I'm ashamed to admit it, but God help me, I too have had a hand in a few battles.

As I glance at what I wrote, I think it would be best if I started over. It all goes back to Uno. All foxes have Uno in their hearts and blood. It's this vulpine heart that unites us. Even when our race was in its darkest hours, we still remained united in spirit. The word "Uno" in our language translates to "free land" in Careinian, but rarely has that label been true. In the year of 1267, Uno, a nation mainly comprised of vulpine men and women, gained its independence from Canvhis in the gory siege of Cavask, led by an outlaw fox known as Todd McCasle, whom I share relations with. Fighting for justice, my ancestor's strong heart drove other vulpine people to take immediate action. The vast Careinian Empire was stunned over the destruction of the city, as the abashed nation could not believe they had been defeated by a band of fighters. Later, the Careinian king, the Carzinski himself, realized his brother ruling Uno at the time had been a very unjust and unfair ruler, which led to the revolt. Obviously, when the people are taxed to their limits, the seeds of revolution will be planted! In response to this, he offered the nominated leader of the foxes, Fox McFelese, one request. The bold vulpine demanded for Uno to become its own nation. The man's order still rings in all our hearts today. "I insist that Uno be free, or a pox be placed on you, the Carzinski of Canvhis, swifter than the winds of our lands and darker than the Vikiro forest! I would die a million brutal deaths if it meant that every vulpine could be free!" Ah, it feels great to write down such powerful words! Consequently, the free state of Uno was formed that very same year. But life was still difficult for our vulpine ancestors. Persecution to the vulpine race became a hobby for other nations, as they considered us a gang of troublemakers after what happened in Cavask. In addition, expulsions from other nations to Uno were common in the thirteenth century for the vulpine race. In an unusual move, though, the powerful Careinians refused to persecute the race. Their king, Chrashzjno V - a loving and just Carzinski – still felt terrible for what his brother did to them, despite what was said to him by McFelese. He generously facilitated the unstable nation and supported them. Under their first king, Fox McFelese the Bold, a mass exodus of the vulpine race migrated to fertile Uno in journeys of joy and suffering. At the end of McFelese's reign, Uno had become the first – and only – free vulpine nation in the world once again and forever more.

Over the next three centuries, battles with other countries became increasingly frequent, and Canvhis and Uno grew farther apart. Uno did however defeat the Tedastrian Empire, a vast empire that warred constantly with Canvhis, in the war of 1522 under Todd McVanke II, a powerful and popular leader among the vulpine race. There, the brave fox is remembered saying, "Freedom for the just! Justice for the merciless! I will never rest until foxes everywhere enjoy basic privileges again! If I cannot unite and liberate Uno, then my soul is not worthy of being forgiven! Chain me to death, beat me until I choke on my own blood, or burn me alive! I will never give up! WE will never give up!" This victory established Uno as an authoritative nation and gave the country some peace and stability. The golden age of Unonian history went in full swing! The brief moment of tranquility allowed McVanke II to advance Uno's arts, technology, and society, giving the country a unique culture that made other nations green with envy. The intelligent and valiant fox also fused the country's clans into one group, uniting the vulpine race for good. Now, because of him, we are truly one nation, and one group. Canvhis even began to revamp its interest and ties with Uno. Perhaps I should say this here: together, McCasle, McFelese, and McVanke II are considered the "fearless protectors of Uno" – a group of heroic Unonians that we feel was guided by God to free us when things turned bleak, the Guardians of Uno. Over the next centuries after McVanke II's glorious reign, battles with other nations broke out from time to time, but at the turn of the nineteenth century, the vulpine population in Uno reached new highs. Virtually all foxes resided in Uno, while some lived in imperial Canvhis. Canvhis, however, began to drift away from Unonian affairs once again. Uno prospered in the nineteenth century under peace, as countries looked to trade and make amends with the now stable country. Those were great days, and my father reminisced about them constantly, which is why I now adore history.

However, dark clouds were on the horizon for the next century. The year 1943 saw the enemies from the north attack us and occupy much of our northern lands, slaughtering many innocent people. A seven-year war broke out between Uno and Hazardouse, and in the end, the invading nation, bent on genocide, retreated from fierce resistance and revolts preformed by us. We may not be the most powerful, but we never give up. Our hearts never allow us to! So, with Hazardouse no longer a threat, many felt peace would soon rule the land. Hazardouse instead attacked Canvhis and gained much of its lands to the south, as Canvhis was ill prepared for a full-scale offensive on their soil. Their once superior army lay in shambles, and the siege crippled the once glorious nation. Though Uno escaped Hazardouse's clutches, the nation was now unstable, as the victory fueled thoughts of revolution. An ex-Unonian Royal Army general, Fredecho McResivo, led a series of bloody and costly uprisings against the weak Unonian king, demanding him to step down. McResivo appealed to many of us because he promised us wealth in both money and food. He desired control of Uno, and would do anything – even lie to his own people – to accomplish his evil task. He warned his enemies, those loyal to the king, that they would die for their lack of submission, which caused other vulpines to jump on his side. Being a lover for peace and good, I refused to be blinded by his foolish demands. The general called his fighting force the "Mafia," Unonian for "the force," and led his army to combat the other Unonian people. The revolts and uprisings ignited an all-out war in Uno, and the country fell into a bloody, terrible civil war. Both sides were well equipped with guns and soldiers, and the war quickly became a stalemate within a few years. King McResivo, who was Fredecho's younger brother (yes, sibling rivalry apparently), died at the start of the war. King Casko II replaced him, but he is not much of a better fighter or leader. The general in charge of the Mafian army died in 1963 and gave way to General McRasko, who is more ruthless and bloodthirsty than his predecessor. The fighting has been very intense and deadly since then, even up to the year 1974.

And now, I sit here in my bedchamber, waiting, hoping, praying, and crying for freedom from the evil that has poisoned the souls of so many. May God free us from this evil. Though I am young, I do not want to die knowing that Uno is enslaved by darkness. No. There must be hope out there. There has to be someone who can lead us out of this spiral of chaos. Please, as I get on my knees and pray, please let there be a way for the vulpine race to bask in the glory of peace and hope. If not, then I will surely fight until I die. But until then, I shall wait. Perhaps there is use for me in Uno's freedom.

-Todd Allensko McCasle, twenty-fifth generation offspring of the Virtuous

Protector, Todd McCasle.

In the town of Selena, however, there could be hope for this troubled nation, in the form of a young fox. The year was 1974. The journey began now.