"Hermione, can you put this in your beaded bag for now?" You ask.
She looks at the broom longingly, but replies "Sure."
"I know we could use it now, but I'd like to try to find the camp first on foot, if that doesn't work, we'll pull the broom back out. I just hate to use it now, when it might come in handy later. After all we don't know what's coming."
With the broom safely tucked away, you begin to move in a direction that you feel is south-east, knowing that it is approximately the direction you came from after tracking Cedric, Crabbe and Goyle.
Ugh. Crabbe and Goyle, you think. They are still out there, since you didn't get your chance to attack this morning. For now you can only hope someone else takes them out before you meet up with them again.
After a couple of hours of walking, you haven't gotten very far. With all of your weakened states, you have had to take frequent rest breaks. You are about to suggest pulling out the broom, when a sudden movement ahead catches your eye.
"Did you see that?" you ask the others.
"Yes, what was that?" Hermione replies with a shaky tone. "It looked like a skeletal horse."
"Yes, a horse with wings." Ron adds.
A thestral, or what appears to be one anyway, you think, recalling the muttation of Hedwig. Suddenly it dawns on you, if he is the real thing, he can help you find your base camp.
You suggest this to Ron and Hermione who are more than a bit skeptical of the idea, partially from their recent encounter with a fanged owl, but also because this is the first time either of them has been able to see the creature. You see it again moving in the trees ahead.
Should you: A.) Approach the thestral or B.) Avoid it