Harmon is the familar of my favorite character.  He started as a weasel.  Cowardly, and scared.  My character sent him forward on his very first solo recon and he got killed by a trap door trap.
My character took it pretty hard, but eventually would get some research and some other "information" that would allow Harmon to be reincarnated.  Harmon is very happy now as a little dragon.  Though now he doesn't do recon, fears lava, and trap doors.  In my writing of the campaign he is the comedy relief, though the role playing of him is a little lacking (the GM and I share him as a character).
He is by no means Black Wing, and to me a character in and of himself.
FWIW- an NPC in the same game, not the type to have a familar traded her ability for Esc. Mat. Feat.  It works for her.