Your companion will follow you no matter where you go, unless it's an area that companions can't enter.
For hunting, they are more or less safe in their default follow setting. I think warcries, fear, and some room wide maneuvers can hit them, but creatures won't single them out unless you tell your companions to attack something. They automatically jump in to the fight if you get stunned or killed, so maybe that's a concern to you. Healing... I honestly don't remember ever having to heal them. They drag themselves off if they 'die', but can be resummoned again after a while.
You had better pay your guild dues before you forget. You are 113 months behind.