My DM remembered that I incur an XP penalty upon his death (yes, HIS name is Lola. The "hawk" decided on that one). He then proceeded to make him very difficult to deal with.
Lola will fly ahead of the party, following the orcs tracks, until he comes upon the orcs themselves or something else interesting... Oh, look, a mouse! I'm hungry! Omnomnom! Wait, I was supposed to be doing something important, but what was it? Oh, look, an Orc! I'd better fly away now...
I'm pretty sure it's all in good fun, but I'd like not to have an oops and lose a fifth of a level.