I leap in fright as two rabbits as big as me leap from the bushes. I'm pretty sure I'm not dreaming, but one holds a monocle to his eye. "Say, you look like a chap who loves to bounce on mushrooms!" I give them a nervous smile, but spreads my hands wide, showing them I have nothing to hide.

"Er, I've never bounced on a mushroom? Is it fun?" The smaller of the two rabbits sniggers as the larger one's mouth drops open. "Is it fun? Why its the best in the world! Now, come along, we have bouncing to do!"

Not feeling like I can spoil their fun I follow them into the bushes. We head down a short path and I look up and gasp. Mushrooms! Giant mushrooms tower above me, spread out in a perfect circle. The bigger bunny turns to me again. "Now, before we getting to bouncing, you should know our names. My name's Treacle and my sister here, is named Teacup. Care to give us yours?" "Er, my what?" "Your name! Good gracious, you, young sir, have spent to much time rolling in catnip!" My mouth drops open at his remark, but Marinette would like him, that's for sure. "Cat Noir." "Why didn't you say so! Now, young Teacup, help Cat onto the mushroom and let the fun begin!"

Bouncing is fun, though it takes some time to get used for mushrooms are very springy. With my cat leaps, so I am bouncing like I've been doing it all my life.

"Ahem!" Thump! I land on my bottom, rubbing my backside. Uh-oh, I recognize that voice. Ladybug stands at the mushroom entrance, tapping her toe and looking annoyed. "Cat Noir, what are you doing? You had me worried when I found you gone!"

"He's not gone, he's right here!" Teacup pipes up, then her ears droop with shyness. "Come on, Bugaboo, its lots of fun!"

Soon, the four us are leaping like frogs, round and round Mushroom Meadow we leap. A rustle in the bushes makes us freeze, and a small man in a top hat stares up at us, tapping his toe and wears a annoyed look. "Well, its a good thing its your UN-Birthday today, or I would be very angry! Aren't you coming to my party?" Treacle and Teacup slide off quickly and Ladybug and I do likewise. "Party? But today isn't your birthday!" "Silly girl, everyday is a day for a party! Follow me!" He struts out of the bushes and Treacle beckons us to follow. "The Mad Hatter gets very angry if you don't come to his party. Just don't be offended if he shows bad manners!"

"Humph, its bad manners not to show up at one's party! Here we are!" I take Ladybug's hand as enter, finding a large table set for tea. We find our places at the table, sitting across from the other rabbits. The Mad Hatter sits at the end, like a king on his throne.

"Why is there a ladybug at my table, and bad luck cat?" "They aren't bad luck. No, in fact, Ladybug's good luck, and Cat here loves to entertain. It takes me a moment to catch on, then I rise from my chair.

"Pun is my name, and puns are my game.

I may be a bad luck cat, but I can make laugh.

The only thing you should not do when you cross a black cat's path is lie or trick him to get what you want."

Everyone claps as I sit down, and Ladybug squeezes my hand. "Bravo, your quite clever. Now, help yourself to chocolate cake!" I grin and tip an imagery hat to my host. "So, can you fly? Don't all Ladybugs have wings?"

Ladybug stands and grins. "If I flew, it would be disaster for you, but I can fly another way." The Mad Hatter waves his hands impatiently and even our new friends look curious.

Ladybug gives her yo-yo a whirl, but as the Mad Hatter starts to appluade she holds up her hand to stop him. His crazy eyes follow her as she hooks her string around a tree branch and flies gracefully to it. I cannot stop watching her, as she makes her swing, she really is a thing of beauty.

"Ta-da!" she gives a shy bow and returns to her seat beside me. "Time to move down, move, move!" Mad Hatter claps his hands once more and we move down, and I take my cake with me.

Treacle raises his teacup for a toast. "Now, that we been entertained, I propose a toast, to our lovely host!" "Oh, sit down, please! Your the most kind!" "Yes," I wink at Treacle across the table. "Many more Happy UN-Birthdays to the Mad Hatter, till the next one tomorrow!"

The party ends soon after this, and the Mad Hatter leaves, but the rabbits stay. "I knew you were clever when I first laid my monocled on you, Cat Noir, but that has to be one of the best UN-Birthdays I've ever been too!"

"Or the strangest tea party I've ever been too," Ladybug tells me when we're out of earshot. "Whoever will we meet next?" I give her a wink and a grin. "I'll tell you this, Bugaboo, no one will top the Mad Hatter!"

We don't meet anyone on the path, but we do need to cover some miles today, for the party took up a lot of the day.

"We'll make good ground tomorrow," Ladybug reassures me as we go off to find wood. But its not Ladybug that comes back to the fire with a armful of wood, but Marinette.

I hide my disappointment that I still don't know who she is, but I mask it well. Still, I give her a big hug, causing her to drop her firewood. "Cat, I missed you, too. But can you put me down? I can't breathe." "Oops, sorry, Princess."

As Marinette cooks supper, I tell her about our adventures. "Don't worry, I was close by watching." My mouth drops open. "You were?" "Yeah, Ladybug asked me to keep a eye on things just in case they got out of hand." I can't resist. "Don't you mean out of paw, love?" "Cat, I have a wooden spoon and I am not afraid to use it."

After supper, we make camp right away, and I fall asleep quickly. Morning comes to quickly and I open my eyes to the sound of thumping.

I see Marinette a little ways off, listening and she hurries towards me. "Cat, what is that sound?" More thumps, only they sound closer now.

I thought we were done seeing rabbits but apparently not, for rabbits appear from everywhere.