Haha, no problem!
1. If you check out the journals/quests stickied info thread there's more on that -- you can basically create three types of characters, two of which (non-chosen/quests) are roleplayable without guardians. So no, you don't need a deer!
2. As a guardian awakens it actually becomes more mentally connected to its chosen in a sense, because it's in the process of becoming sentient and better able to relate to its human counterpart, but the fact that it's growing more intelligent also enables it to be more independent. Is that what you mean by separated? When I post the rest of the stages information this also might make more sense to you.
3. Just the deer, sadly!
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