Do Elephants Wheeze?

The night was dark and bitterly cold, the sort of night when you wish for a roaring fire and a warm blanket. Instead, a small contingent of children were playing soccer beneath the flooding stadium lights, not realizing what they were about to witness. From the far end of the track that surrounded the field came suddenly the thundering of many feet. Looking up in surprise, they beheld a surging mass at top speed. The image of the indomitable horde as it broke into sight, with harsh breath flaring at their nostrils, was a sight to behold, for it was nothing short of the Charge of the Blue Elephants!

Turning much bluer than usual, with hands on the verge of frostbite and the frozen breath hanging on their beardless faces, the brave KBE took to the track at a gallop! In the forefront, despite a raging elephantine migraine, raced the long-striding Nick! Behind him, ruing the choice of Fish and Chips a mere 45 minutes prior, strode Derek. Close at hand ran Ben, laughing at the bitter cold in a heroically Norse fashion. Marley too surged along, rounding out the glorious company, and finished with her characteristically fast finishing charge that none can hope to match.

Then, as suddenly as the charge began, it ended. The awestruck children stood still, their idle soccer balls momentarily forgotten, for they had just witnessed a historic event, the very beginning of the rise to dominance of the Knights of the Blue Elephant! The Knights, all of whom had finished a good strong mile run, were breathless but invigorated, and they too knew that they were on the verge of a historical undertaking.

And so begins the training of the elite KBE, as they prepare for a year of glorious adventure. In order to ensure that they not only strive strongly, but actually attain legendary victories, they begin a grueling training period. Whether to summit distant ice-clad mountains, to travel the dark cavernous wastes of the Ape Caves, or to run immeasurable distances to exotic locales, the Knights will be ready!