Mrs. Gray was angry with Thumbelina.
"You were very rude to run away," she scolded.
"I was upset," said Thumbelina.
She could not forget about Pete lying in the tunnel.
"Over a silly bird?" said Mrs. Gray.
She refused to talk to Thumbelina all day.
That night she went to bed early and left Thumbelina alone.
"Poor Pete," Thumbelina wept.
"I can't leave him lying there as if no one cares."
Thumbelina grabbed one of Mrs. Gray's blankets.
"Pete was my friend.
He should be covered with something," she thought.
She picked up the lantern and quietly opened the back door.
She walked down the tunnel to Pete.
Thumbelina's heart hurt when she saw Pete lying there.
"I remember you bringing me this string," she said.
Then she untied it from his leg.
Thumbelina covered her friend with the blanket and sat next to him.
She looked up at the hole in the tunnel.
"The stars are beautiful, Pete," she whispered.
"But you won't ever see them again."
Thumbelina started to weep and laid her head on his chest.
She heard a faint sound under Pete's feathers.
Boom.
Thumbelina listened hard.
Boom.
The sound was getting stronger.
BOOM.
Pete's heart was still beating.
"He's alive! Pete!" Thumbelina almost shouted.
"Where am I?" Pete said, slowly opening his eyes.
"Is that you, Thumbelina?"
She could not believe it.
"Pete! I'm so glad you're alive,"
she cried, hugging him.
"I feel warmer," Pete said.
"Let me help you," said Thumbelina.
She quickly ran back to Mrs. Gray's and returned with some water.
"What are you doing here, Thumbelina?"
Pete asked after drinking the water.
Thumbelina sighed loudly.
"I'm staying with a very kind mouse.
But she wants me to marry Mr. Rufus."
"Who's that?" asked Pete.
"He's a mole," replied Thumbelina.
"He lives underground.
And he hates sunshine!"
She didn't tell Pete that Mr. Rufus hated birds too.
"That's horrible!" said Pete.
"We must do something."
"First, you need to get better," said Thumbelina.
The next day, Thumbelina spread her wedding dress on the floor.
She filled it with nuts and seeds from Mrs. Gray's cupboard.
Then she pulled the edges of the dress together.
She dragged it to Pete.
"This food will make you well," said Thumbelina.
A few days passed and Pete felt stronger.
"I want to hear what happened to you," said Thumbelina.
Pete nodded. "Let me tell you my story."