Hello everybody! I'm back! I know it's been long since I've updated, but I've been really, really busy at school... Hope you can understand.

Anyway, half of this chapter is filled with Ray/Mariah moments, and it contains a pretty strong Ray/Mariah lime, so be forewarned. :)

If you like the ReiMao in this chapter, remember to review afterwards! I'll be really grateful!

Bloody Mary – I'm really sorry for being boring in the last chapter... I really can't write Action/Adventure, and anyway, that chapter was more for explanations... ;) Hope you like this chapter.

disappearing vapour – I'm glad you like both Instincts and Peace!

Galux Kitty – Yes! They're back to their normal forms:) ((is happy)) ... I think the plot of this fic is pretty lame...

Paris Super Girls – I'm happy that they've reverted back to their old forms too! And I'm glad you like the OC/OC:)

ray-is-sexy – I'm happy to review your fic:) Yes, we all look forward to limes and lemons.

Ashanti – Hello! Thanks for the review, and for thinking that about my fics!

Flareod – Fantasy is nice... I'm glad that they're human again too!

Jadis Fazer – :) Thanks for the review! I'm glad you think so!

Galux – :) ((is happy that you like the chapter))

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade (or Ray and Mariah wouldn't be doing so little... things). The song You Make Me Wanna (by Blue) used to be in this fic, but due to FFN's stupid rules, the song has been taken off. If you want a copy of the original songfic, feel free to email me:) Now... Carry on with the fic!

Feline Instincts
By Aquarius Galuxy
Chapter 6: The Infinite Lands (Part Two)

Silence reigned in the clearing, until Ray found his voice again. They were all looking at one another, wondering what to make of all that had happened. And then there was the thing about him and Mariah being special…

"So… Should we trust her? There doesn't seem to be anyone else we know here."

The woman beside him nodded. "We can, but all of us have to keep an eye out for anything that doesn't seem to be right. I have this feeling that we should believe in her."

There was a general murmur of agreement among the rest of them, and Max stood up, dusting himself off. "Well, we can't be sitting here all day, can we? I vote we find that house Cassandra was talking about. After all, we need a place to rest."

They nodded and got up too, heading west into the forest. There were many trees, but not overly crowded, so that it seemed to welcome them in. A few strange-sounding chirps greeted them along the way, although no animals could be seen.

After a walk lasting around five minutes, the trees opened out into another clearing, this one being much larger than the one they were in previously. To the left, hidden by some trees, was a small stream, and beyond the clearing was a wide lake, which was masked more heavily than the stream which fed it. However, the glitter on the surface of the water could still be seen through the gaps of the trees, and it looked inviting.

A cottage stood in the middle of the clearing, quaintly built. It had a tiled roof, sloping down on both sides, and a chimney peeked from the back of the house. A wooden door and two small glass windows completed the front of the house, and it could be expected that everything else inside would be carefully made too.

The door was unlocked, and they filed in slowly, eyes wide at the wooden floors and walls, as well as the cozily decorated rooms. There was not a sign of dust anywhere, almost as if there were a housekeeper here, or that the house had somehow cleaned itself magically.

Awed remarks were made, and they spread out throughout the cottage to explore it.

"Hey!" Tyson exclaimed. "There're five bedrooms, and there're seven of us!"

There was a pregnant pause, before Ray grinned at his fiancée. "I'll share one with Mari."

Kenny walked back to the living room, where the other six people had gathered. His expression was one with a mixture of incredulousness and shock. He spoke weakly, "I've just checked… They're all single beds."

"We'll… manage…" Ray replied, turning back to Mariah, squeezing her hand. She could not help but feel her heart leap at the devious glint in his eyes. The prospect of being snuggled warmly up with him was irresistible. If only time passed faster…

The brown-haired man blinked awkwardly, the thought of an unmarried couple sharing a single bed not being digestible to him. However, it was their choice, and he had to respect that. "If you say so…"

The weird looks at the engaged pair turned to those of thoughtful ones when Emily reminded them that they were still short of a room. Silence ensued again as each person wondered whether he or she should give up the room that he or she 'rightfully' had.

"I'll sleep on the couch," Kai said at last, determinedly, so that there was nothing else for the rest of them to do but nod. Seeing that there was nothing else he could do here… The slate-haired man headed for the door, pausing to say something. "I'll go outside and have a look around."

The door was opened and shut, and Kai disappeared outside. It was quiet again, when a rumble came in the direction of Tyson's stomach. The navy-haired man grinned sheepishly.

"Hey, it's nearly lunchtime back home!" he said as an excuse, as the remaining people sighed in defeat. "Ray, as a good friend of mine, could you cook me something? Please?"

Ray looked at the feline woman next to him. She squeezed his hand in reassurance and tiptoed to whisper in his ear, "I'll wait for you in our room… I feel like going for a swim."

"Sure," he murmured in reply, smiling at her, and watching her retreat into the bedroom furthest away, before following Tyson into the kitchen.

"So, Ray, how are things going between you and Mariah?" Tyson asked, smirking in a somewhat evil fashion.

The Chinese man opened the pantry door and scanned the food inside, taking some items out. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about her… The way she smiled, the way she behaved, what they were going to do later on… "We're doing fine, and being happily engaged."

The Japanese man narrowed his eyes, observing his friend. "So… why'd you volunteer to share the bed with her? I mean, both of you are still not married…"

"Tyson, we know what we're doing –"

"You're going to sleep with her?" A sly smile highlighted the question.

Ray coloured slightly, turning away. Why did people keep questioning them about this? He wasn't embarrassed about it… It was just that the matter was a little too awkward to be spoken about in public…

"Actually, that's part of the reason why we were turned into cats… It was a criteria of the prophecy, only that we didn't know it at that time… The bottom line is that we really do love each other, and we don't regret anything that happened."

Tyson blinked, another smirk growing on his face as it dawned on him. He thumped Ray on the back. "Way to go, Ray!"

"Uh… We'd prefer it if you kept it under wraps, Tyson," the Chinese man muttered uncomfortably.

There was a thoughtful look on his face, before he grinned. "My lips are sealed."

Ray walked out of the kitchen, wondering if Mariah had waited long. He hadn't meant to keep her waiting… He knew that she wouldn't be angry, but it made him feel guilty for keeping her in suspense.

There was only Kenny in the living room, running another program on his laptop. Ray paused, facing the bespectacled man to ask about the remaining people in their group.

"Kenny, do you know where Max and Emily are? They were here before I went in…"

The brown-haired man looked up, a little dazed. "They mentioned something about walking to the stream…"

"Thanks." He headed to the last room, knocking softly on the door before opening it.

Mariah was dressed in a white, fluffy bathrobe, holding another in her hands. She stepped away from the wooden closet and smiled at him. His heart melted, and he grinned back at her, walking closer. A playful grin crept up her face as she handed him a pair of swimming trunks and the bathrobe. "Get dressed."

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips, taking the bundle from her. "Have you been waiting long?"

"No… I was thinking – what did Cassandra mean when she said that we have 'qualities' that don't surface back home? And why were we turned into cats? Surely there has to be something behind the prophecy…"

Ray pulled her into a hug, stroking the back of her head. "I don't know, Mari… But we'll ask Cassandra when we see her again, okay?"

She nodded, then drew away from him, letting her fingers trail down his arms. His gaze rested on her, and he began to undress, knowing that her eyes were on him, and that she was enjoying this as much as he was.

It seemed like ages since she last saw him like that… She looked him up and down, unable to tear her eyes away… not that she wanted to. His handsome face, his beautiful golden eyes, his long black hair, his strong arms, his muscled torso, his toned legs, his… A touch of regret bit at her heart when he pulled on his swimming trunks.

Ray put the bathrobe on, then slipped an arm around her waist, murmuring in her ear. "Let's go."

She nodded and pressed closer to him, delighting in the feel of the robed body beside hers. He'd like how she dressed herself up… She could feel it in her being. After all, he needed a treat too… They'd been felines for far too long, in her opinion. Mariah anticipated the time when they returned from the lake… Nothing could really happen at the lake itself – it was too open and public. But they could still have fun in the water…

The glittering surface of the lake was what they first saw when they neared it, followed by the shallow, crystalline waters. It seemed to beckon towards them, inviting them in.

Ray steered them towards a spot fairly far away from the direction of the cottage, where a few low bushes were. Mariah pulled away from him, taking a couple of steps backwards, before undoing the loose knot on her bathrobe and pulling the white cloth off. Tossing the bathrobe onto a bush, she faced him again, grinning coyly as he shed his bathrobe, throwing it on top of hers.

His golden eyes were fixed on her body, pupils dilating slightly when he realised that she was wearing a slinky two-piece. He missed looking upon her half-naked body… The carnal desire for her arose again… Was coming here a good idea?

Mariah slipped into the water, feeling her feet land on the sandy lakebed. Her eyes danced as she waited for him to enter. Ray grinned and followed her in, lowering himself into the water. It was slightly higher than chest-deep for her, but she didn't seem to mind. The woman stepped closer to him and ran a hand lightly down his chest, causing his heart to race. She leaned in and brushed her lips across his, then pulled back.

"Ray, would you like to carry me around the lake?" she asked quietly, a smile tugging on the corners of her lips.

"I don't see why not…" He turned and bent his knees slightly, so that he faced away from her, allowing her to climb on. Mariah tiptoed and leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his neck, before lifting and curling her legs against his waist. A purr escaped her throat when he reached up to support her rear. He smiled and turned his head to look at her. "You're ready?"

"Yeah," she murmured, pressing herself closer to him. Ray smiled, taking slow steps along the bank of the lake. It was enjoyable walking around that lake with her clinging onto him, and her water-supported weight on his back. However, it was difficult for him to keep calm, with how she kept rubbing her body against his, and how she nuzzled his neck…

The man felt his heart accelerate when she rubbed her chest against his back. He could feel her bringing her head closer to his… She started to nibble softly on his neck, causing him to breathe more deeply… She was arousing him…

"Mari… Can I put you down?"

She pulled slightly away from him, letting one hand slide down his arm. "Okay."

He lowered her onto the lakebed, then turned around to look at her. There was a playful smile on her face. Ray reached over to wrap his arms around her waist and pulled her close, as his heart flooded with love for her once again. He gazed into her eyes for a second, before succumbing to the strong urge…

She gasped slightly when he bent down to kiss her hard, and she returned it. He felt her hands creep under his arms and around his waist, holding him to her. He'd yearned to do this for so long… His hands moved up to her shoulder blades, then her head to cup her cheeks. She was toying with the hem of his swimming trunks…

He let his hands slide down to her chest, grinning against her lips when she trembled. His fingers slipped under her bra top, moving between her skin and the cloth to climb the full curves of her breasts. A pleasured purr escaped her throat as he caressed her, passing his fingertips over her nipples. She pressed herself against him, almost pleading for more. He withdrew a hand, much to her displeasure, reaching behind to undo the bow she'd tied to secure the top in place. She raised her arms to wrap them around his neck so that it was easier for him to touch her.

In mere seconds, the garment was drifting loosely around her body, and she pulled away from him, grinning. "Miss me?"

"Yes…" He looked deep into her eyes, delighted at her arousal and passion. The man ran his thumbs along the bottom edges of her uncovered breasts, watching as her pupils dilated further. He wanted her again… He hadn't held her human form in his arms for such a long time… She stepped closer to him, so that her skin brushed against his. The unrestrained peaks of her breasts pressed lightly against his chest…

If it weren't for the fact that there were other people around, he'd already have made love to her… It was obvious that she wanted it too…

The crunch of footsteps on grass alerted them to the arrival of at least one person. Eyes widened, he pulled the woman to himself, leading her behind the shelter of an overhanging escarpment. They grinned sheepishly at each other, and Ray reached behind to tie her bra top back into place, finishing it off by running a finger down her spine. She shivered and brushed her lips against his.

"Hey, Max, do you think we should be heading back now?" Emily's voice floated through the air to their ears. "It's almost mid-afternoon here."

There was a pause, before Max replied, "Yeah, you're right, Emily. Come, let's go back."

The sounds of their footsteps grew more distant after a while, and Ray raised his hand to brush a few strands of her hair away from her face, gazing softly at her. "Want to go back too?"

"Sure." She grinned, taking hold of his other hand. "It should be near lunch or dinner now, and there's no one else to cook."

"Okay then."

They walked further up, where the bank of the lake was less towering, before he lifted himself out of the water, then offering her a hand to help her out.

The night was relatively quiet, from where they were, at the little space under a leafy tree. Starlight shone down from the sky, doing little to illuminate the clearing, and the little cottage that stood within it. A sea of clouds was at the side of the clearing, not yet threatening to rain.

Dinner had already been settled, and it was close to midnight. The rest of the seven people had turned in for an early night, so that there wasn't any sign of light streaming from the window. They could rest peacefully behind the protective shield, and they were grateful for it. All seven of them had discussed their situation so far, forming some harmless theories which could be tested along the way.

But for now, that matter was laid to rest, and he wanted to spend the rest of the night thinking only about the woman leaning against him at that moment.

Ray tightened his hold on Mariah, who had laid her head against his shoulder. She looked up at him in curiosity, and he smiled reassuringly at her. She was snuggled against him, sharing his heat as the cold night air descended upon the ground. It was the only other time they could be alone together, apart from the time they'd spent in the lake.

He leaned close to her, burying his face in her hair. He missed running his hand through her silken locks… Somehow, they ways to pleasure her were very much reduced when they changed into felines, and he felt guilty for not being able to please her as well as he could when he was a human. He was so glad when they turned back… It just made him treasure the feminine form beside him more… It was wonderful enough sitting with her like that, where there was no necessity to speak.

She placed a hand on his chest, slowly running it across to take in his shape. She'd wanted to feel his human form against hers, on hers… Being a feline had its bonuses, but she'd come to realise that humans were more easily aroused. However, she still loved him just as much… Everything about him appealed to her. She raised her hand to touch his lips, and her breath caught in her throat when he lifted her up and placed her on his lap, so that she faced him.

Her face was shadowed from any light, so that he couldn't see her playful grin. Mariah leaned forward to kiss him passionately, purring and threading her fingers through his hair when he returned it. He encircled her waist with his arms, smiling when she entered his mouth without warning. Her tongue toyed with his, re-exploring his mouth. This was something they couldn't exactly do as cats, and she was making the most of it now.

There was nothing else he could do except think about her, and how her body was molded so invitingly against his...

The distant sound of beating wings were ignored by them, until it grew louder, which was when they realised that something was heading for them. The couple broke apart, looking up at whatever was flying in the air.

Clouds finally moved away from the full moon, surprising them with its presence. Everything was suddenly brighter, and they saw a white horse galloping towards the ground, its huge wings beating strongly at its sides. Cassandra was riding on it, without any rein or saddle. She was dressed in the same clothing as when they last saw her. A smile touched her lips when she saw them.

Black hooves came into contact with the ground, thudding on the grass at high speed. Horse and rider came to a stop before them, and they watched as the woman dismounted, walking to the front of the horse, which folded its wings at its sides. She held the white, furred head, looking deep into the large brown eyes.

"That will be all for today, Eloea. I will call for you again tomorrow. Go and rest for now."

The horse nodded, backing away from her once her hands fell from its face. Cassandra watched as it trotted off, then walked over the two people sitting under the tree. By now, Mariah had slipped to one side of her fiancé, and they were watching her.

She drew close to, and finally stopped in front of them, bowing slightly. "We meet again."

They blinked in surprise. She looked more realistic than in the afternoon, and the white glow was still around her.

"You said you were arriving tomorrow," Ray said in question. Could she really be trusted?

She nodded. "I did, but nothing happened along the way, and the winds are blowing in this direction. I did not expect this myself."

The auburn-haired woman observed them as they looked at each other, then back at her. "Is there anything you wish to know?"

"Yes," Mariah replied, watching as the woman sat under another tree two metres away. "You said earlier that Ray and I have special 'qualities' in this dimension. What do you mean?"

"A hundred years ago, there existed an animosity for the King Geraint, harboured by the King's distant cousin himself – Kleston. Kleston believed that he should be the king of Eternia, as he was born with magical powers, while King Geraint wasn't. Thus a rift grew between these two men, and Kleston tried many ways to get back at the King, but was generally unsuccessful, as there is a strong defence force in Eternia.

"On the other side of the story, a strange stone was brought to the King, and it was said to have something trapped within it. This stone was named the Auri stone. King Geraint trusted his two closest advisors, Lord Rei and Lady Mao, to unlock its secret, as he knew of their magical powers. The Lord and Lady were glad to help, and they tried, unsuccessfully, to discover what lay within.

"One day, they brought it to the Emerald Court in the castle, where magic is said to be the strongest.

"Kleston decided to attack on that very day, and he had grown much stronger so that Lord Rei and Lady Mao had to use all their powers to defend the stone and the castle against him. The royal guardian spirit, Talora, came to help, but all the energy involved banished Kleston to a distant, unknown place, trapped Talora in the Auri stone and killed the Lord and Lady."

There was a short pause, before Cassandra continued. "Some parts of the Auri stone were dispersed on his land, and we believe that they have to be retrieved before anything else can be done to unlock the stone. And to find those pieces, we need the souls of the Lord and Lady to find and retrieve them."

"So... you mean that we're the reincarnations of the Lord and Lady?" Ray asked, finding Mariah's hand and squeezing it slightly.

"Yes." The azure-eyed woman answered steadily. "I'm afraid that you don't really have much choice. Without Talora, you cannot return."

They could do nothing but accept what she said. Mariah glanced at Ray, then back at Cassandra. "Was that why we were changed into cats?"

Cassandra nodded. "The Lord and Lady were previously known for morphing into cats themselves, and it appears that you have acquired that ability. I don't think you know this – both or you are able to return to your feline forms when you want to, and you can use this to aid you in case you run into danger. However, it may take some practice before you can do so flawlessly."

They nodded numbly, and Mariah remembered something. "What about that strange white glow that enveloped us back home?"

"I was trying to make sure that you were safe... We couldn't afford to let you get hurt even before you arrived. I am sorry to have watched you at some point or other... I was just worried that Kleston found out and attempted to take the stone for himself. And before I forget... This is an invisibility charm. Your desire to hide anybody will call upon its powers."

Cassandra drew a chain from her dress and handed it to Ray.

He looked at it. It was a thin, silvery chain, with silver tendrils curling around a black pearl as a pendant. The man looked back at her, and she gave him a well-meaning smile, nodding towards it. "Thanks..."

Ray took the chain and secured it around Mariah's neck, murmuring, "If there's any danger, save yourself first... I don't want to lose you..."

They shared a loving gaze, before Cassandra spoke again. "The Lord and Lady cared a lot for each other too... Just thought you might like to know that."

"You knew them?" Mariah asked.

"Yes – my father worked alongside them sometimes... The people here age very slowly."

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the moon was rapidly being shielded by dark clouds again. A few drops of rain fell.

"Listen – it's going to storm heavily. You had best return to the cottage," Cassandra told them.

"What about you?" They couldn't just leave her alone in the rain...

"I'll be fine. Just go on without me," she replied, waving them away. They took a last look at her, before the clouds swallowed the moon, and rain started to pelt down. The two people sprinted back to the small building, twisting the doorknob open and nearly stumbling into the living room.

Kai opened his eyes from his place on the couch that was facing the door, ready to spring into action, should there be an attack on them. Ray and Mariah grinned sheepishly at him, and he narrowed his eyes, turning away to sleep.

The raven-haired man grabbed his fiancée's hand, his eyes dancing when she turned to look at him. Raindrops pattered on the windows and the roof, creating an irregular, yet constant beat at the same time.

Without a word, they headed for their room, Ray opening the door for her to enter first, then shutting it behind him. He turned to face her. Their gazes locked for what seemed to be forever, as they merely stood and wondered at the other's presence.

They were finally back in their human forms, with the potential of doing many things ahead of them. It had been long since they had last done this, and anticipation, as well as strong desire, was building up in their hearts. The events of the afternoon had not been forgotten, and that only added to the need of being truly bonded again.

Ray released her hand, circling her waist to pull her close to him. She gave a small, almost inaudible gasp before their lips met in a deep kiss. They wanted each other... He could feel her warm, supple body against his... She was pressing herself against him, so that each could feel the other... Her lips were working against his, hungry for more of him... He entered her mouth, sliding his tongue over hers, under hers... She teased him back.

Her hand fell from his chest to his side, finding the hem of his shirt and tugging on it. He took a step forward, in the direction of the bed, so that she had to move backwards, or she would risk losing her balance. Breaking away from her, he peeled his shirt off his torso. His heart filled with warmth when she looked upon him and smiled, brushing her chest against his. He shivered and kissed her again, letting his hands slide to the edge of her denim pants. Ray took another step forward, causing her to retreat and hug him closer to herself.

She reached down to the hem of his pants, reaching in and deftly untying the knot he'd previously tied. His form trembled a little, and she pushed the article of clothing down, breaking away from him to grin triumphantly. He was still on the hook above the zip of her pants... She drew back temptingly, making him follow her back, and moving even nearer to her.

The man fingered her zip, before pulling it down. He didn't seem to be affected by her grin, instead smiling back at her. The next thing she felt was his hand sliding down to her crotch, remaining there for a second, before he withdrew it. She shivered violently. Her pupils were already large from the lack of light, and they dilated further with his touch.

She stepped out of her pants too, before he tipped her chin up to capture her lips again. His lips were soft and warm against hers... He was trailing kisses down her jaw... She felt him reach down to unbutton her sleeveless blouse, drawing her breath sharply when his hand nudged against her breast. She loved it when he touched her... Mariah pulled him backwards, nearer still to the bed.

A tremble shook her form as she anticipated the time when he reached the last of the buttons. Mariah rested her hands at the small of his back, trailing small circles on his skin. The corners of her lips twitched up when he started to push her shirt down, and she pulled her hands away, so that the shirt fell to the floor. He tugged softly on her lips, before breaking away and looking her over, then returning to her eyes. He flashed a playful smile at her, so that his fangs were revealed. She flushed in eagerness, grinning at him in return.

Ray pulled her closer to himself, guiding her forwards, so that she felt the side of the bed pressing against her leg at an angle. A flash of understanding passed between them. She clung onto his neck as he pushed her down to the mattress. The time they'd spent not doing this was long enough, and she didn't want anything to interrupt their time together...

He was lying on top of her, trailing kisses down her throat to the base of her neck. Mariah took deep breaths to calm herself. There was more she could do to him... He sucked lightly on her skin, licking her every so often. She rubbed herself against him, loving the contact their skins made. He liked it too, moving back up to lavish her with another kiss.

She was barely clad in her undergarments... He ran his hands over her body, lingering at her more sensitive areas, before moving on to caress her skin. Her presence alone was overpowering his senses... He wanted to pleasure her again, wanted to bring her happiness...

The woman purred, letting her tongue join his in a heated dance, while trailing her hands down his chest, to his abdomen... He trembled a little. If he thought that was all, he was wrong... She slipped her hand into his boxers, taking hold of him. He growled and shivered violently, nibbling on her lower lip.

His heart quickened when she gave him a light squeeze. He was so obviously aroused... His chest heaved from the strong emotions coursing through his body. Her withdrawn hand was creeping lightly, seductively across his chest... The other was splayed carelessly across his back, just being in contact with him.

He loosened his hold on her, and she took this opportunity to push him onto his back with a practiced ease, breaking the kiss. He watched as she sat lightly on his abdomen, straddling him. She rested her hands on his chest, grinning down at him.

Ray slid his arms up to the small of her back, pulling her down slowly towards him. It seemed to take an eternity... He knew that she was trying to draw out his anticipation... Some of her long pink hair came loose to frame her face. She was beautiful... The woman was nearly on him... He reached up to undo the clasp, so that the dark material fell away from her body. Her surprised gasp induced a twinkle in his eyes.

His golden gaze swept down to her body momentarily, admiring her flawless skin, before looking back up to her face. The bra was swept off his body, before they were caught in another kiss, their hands roaming over each other's body, caressing, groping, fondling...

The man slid her underwear off, moving his hand down to stroke her crotch again... She moaned, rubbing her hips against his. He pinned her suddenly onto the bed, gazing intensely into her eyes. Her pupils were dilated, their depths raging with desire.

She tugged on his boxers, waiting for a mere few seconds, before pushing them down as far as she could reach, then curling her legs up so that she caught the hem of the cloth with her toes. She pulled the last article down with her feet, gasping when she realised how he was pressed against her...

The look in his eyes told her that he felt the same... He murmured huskily in her ear. "I want you, Mari..."

"I have always been yours to take, Ray..." she whispered, her hand creeping down to touch him again. A growl sounded from deep in his throat, filled with urge.

"I need you..."

So... How was the chapter? Do you think you could raise the review count to 66 or higher, with all that Ray/Mariah scenes I wrote...? It isn't easy, you know... :)

Thanks for reviewing!