Guardian of the Talion

This guardian was protecting the Talion for reasons unknown. It is possible that it was guarding the Talion to prevent any chance being made of a being transforming itself into a Dragon via use of the Dagger of Xian. The Guardian may not be aware of that, but the monks from the Barkhang Monastery may have somehow trained the creature to become attached to the Talion and thus protect it.

When Lara Croft came looking for the Talion, she found it and was then met by its Guardian. She battled and killed it and left the palace to escape from Marco Bartoli on her way to China.