It has been a hard day of classes much like any other, except that Cadet Elise has had to shoulder the burden … with a lot less shoulder to support it with. Her arm is still in a sling and splint, and she has a few bindings elsewhere over other, lesser, wounds – thankfully concealed well enough by her uniform, albeit it is minus the full suit of chitin armor that she routinely likes to clank around in. The ever-present, ever-helpful and ever-shy Sabel has been so nice as to carry Elise's books for the day, though now the Servant of the Sword has headed back to Sanguine Hall with the stack of tomes, leaving Elise alone for the moment at the front steps, while most of the cadets rush out to take advantage of their freedom for the rest of the day.

Another poodle girl, though, doesn't rush out, instead standing at the base of the steps with a piece of parchment tacked to a hard-board, and handing out pamphlets to anyone who gets close enough and slow enough for her to stuff one into a passing hand. "Sign the petition!" cries the pepper-haired poodle girl, "Voice your support for the identity of Rephidim and the worship of the First Ones!"

"Mm?" The woman peers down the steps at the pepper-haired fellow Gallee and considers her for a moment. Noting mentally that, in fact, she has nothing else to do at the moment and would rather not stand in the way of departing students Elise walks down the stairs and hails the other poodle. "Ah, yes, hello. May I inquire as to what you have there?" she asks her.

The pepper poodle perks up at Elise's approach. "Hello! Oh! You're Cadet Bellefeuille, aren't you? What happened to you? I heard you'd moved out of the Petunia Dormitory, but you're still in classes? Oh! Please forgive my manners. I'm Penelope … and here's my petition… " The pepper-haired poodle holds out a list that has several names signed on it, though it takes a moment to read the fine print.

As the injured poodle squints to read the fine print she makes some effort to reply, though distracted. And that not entirely by reading small writing. "Oh, yes I am indeed Cadet de Bellefeuille. I … had a bit of an unusual turn of events and had an unfortunate encounter with some stairs and the floor beyond. I … also now reside in a different dorm." She studies the paper more and then rotates her ears a bit towards the other poodle. "What is this about?"

In the time that Elise hardly even gets started through the fancy and overly elaborate and formal prose on the document, Penelope paraphrases, "This is a petition that is meant to be presented to the Temple, to let them know that we, as loyal citizens of Rephidim, wish to assert our firm conviction that the worship of the First Ones is an inseparable part of our identity as Rephidimites, and that the Temple should be more assertive in proclaiming the worship of the First Ones as the official religion of Rephidim. For too long, nobody has been precisely clear just exactly what it is that Templars worship! A temple with no clear religion … isn't that laughable? But we all know it to be true." She shakes her head, sighing.

Meanwhile Cadet de Bellefeuille continues to search the page for any sign of suspicious fine print. "As a loyal worshipper of the First Ones, I cannot deny that I would like to see our shared faith made more official," starts the cadet, her head lifting to turn towards the other poodle mid-sentence, "however, how exactly do you mean to make our faith inseparable? Not all citizens worship the First Ones, in fact, not even all the branches of the Temple worship them."

"That's exactly the problem!" asserts the pepper-furred poodle. "We believe that a Temple cannot stand divided against itself. It must be unified in its belief, or else how can it represent the people? The people who visit Rephidim can worship whatever they care to, for we are the protectors of Sinai, no matter how misled the primitives may be … but for the Temple to be so vague on matters of faith is … a tragedy!"

The paperwork seems to pretty much say just what Penelope is describing, though in overblown legalistic prose that takes even longer to read than it does for Penelope to go through her mini-speeches.

Having decided the legal wording is not worth the time to read, or attempt to understand in her tired state, Elise opts to learn from conversation. "I am not exactly clear just exactly what the other branches worship, exactly. The Technopriesthood religion was vaguely described to me once by a visiting Technopriest, but I cannot say I understand it well. I know even less of what the Knights Templar worship. Are you aware of either of their religions? In detail?" asks the weary poodle as she studies the expression on her fellow's face. "I would feel uncomfortable opposing the Temple belief system without learning as much as possible about it. I have trouble believing that our government would do something without good reason."

Penelope takes a deep breath, then says, "Our forefathers and foremothers sought to learn the mysteries of Sinai, and of the First Ones who came before our people on the Ark – our predecessors, as it turns out, from a time long past. But the many years of governing a secular world has put strains on the religious aspect of the Temple. It has promoted those people good at keeping law and order and prosperity … but at the sacrifice of moral fortitude and conviction. So, the teachings have been watered down, to the point where nobody is quite sure what we are supposed to believe anymore. A priest is a priest … but a priest of what? Our priests have become nothing more than bureaucrats, it seems … bureaucrats serving the lofty cause of preserving peace and freedom in Rephidim, true … but how can they forget their duties, their calling to a higher order? To the advancement of our species to enlightenment?"

A few cadets nearby pause for Penelope's speech, and clap politely when she has finished.

Elise reaches to clap, but after a pained wince, remembers her injury and lets her hand fall. "A wonderful speech, Penelope. Indeed I too believe that religion should temper our leaders, and that the vagueness expressed today can be most unsettling when you consider many other religions are better defined and upheld. It simply does not do for Rephidim to fall short on such matters. I agree to this, at least. I will sign." She weakly and holds out her hand. "If you would be so nice as to help me sign, that is. I am one hand short of being able to sign standing."

"Oh!" gasps Penelope. "Please forgive me. I didn't notice." She holds up the tablet, and carefully puts the pen into Elise's good paw. "I think that this is especially pressing, given the challenges Rephidim has been facing from the surface. We mustn't let our identity be crushed by the likes of those ingrates."

Pen in hand, Elise signs her name with a flourish and then offers the pen back. "Troubled times," she says absently, almost distant as she considers something beyond the paper for a moment before focusing again on Penelope. "I had almost forgotten, between class and my dre- … my distractions, I have been very busy. Anyway, how more do you intend to see our combined wish fulfilled? Have you a rally planned, or some other event perhaps?"

Penelope nods. "Yes, quite so! Ah … here's a pamphlet." She puts away the pen, and shifts the tablet into one arm, then digs through a pouch, pulling out a slightly crumpled pamphlet, a mass-produced one stamped with a moveable-type press. It has the emblem of the Star and Anchor, with a woodcut of images of the First Ones.

With her once again free hand, Elise accepts the pamphlet and lowers her head to study it. She reads a little into it before speaking. "Considering the times, I would not think it best to have any sort of protest. We need not seem in conflict with the Temple, which surely would be bad for morale, but more as a reminder or revival group intent on seeing our heritage and faith strengthened," comments Elise as she reads.

The pamphlet advertises a rally to be held outside the main gate of the Temple, and emphasizes in bold letters that this is to be a peaceful demonstration, to show patriotism and love for the Temple. Demonstrations, after all, tend to get out of hand in Rephidim.

"Oh!" exclaims Elise as she reads, a larger smile crossing her face. "Exactly what I had in mind! When does this event occur? I most certainly will try and be there."

"Well," says the pepper-haired poodle, "actually, it's tonight. I'm sorry I'm so late in getting out the pamphlets. But I had to get Daddy to print them, and, well, he's been pretty busy with the New Year preparations and all and … well, do you think you can make it? We'll be meeting at the Temple court at sundown. All the cadets should wear their uniforms, to show their support."

Elise snaps to attention and gives the other cadet a Star and Anchor salute. Of course, her cast is used as the "anchor" given that she only has one free arm to salute with. "Oh yes, I will be there. I have not had time for much in the way of support rallies or school functions. I think this will be both fun, and hopefully beneficial to all believers who have not the will to speak out," answers Elise.

Cadet Penelope returns the salute, standing proudly at attention. "It will be good to see you there! Now, be sure and be there a bit early!"

"Actually I will head out that way right now, and busy myself with something until the time comes. I have not watched the changing of the guard in some time. I think I will sit on the steps and do that," says Elise before she steps out of the salute and lets her hand wander over to support the cast some. "I'd best be off then, before they rotate!"