A Stone Guardian

You walk up the gently sloping cave passage, which ends in a slightly more open chamber. Dim light filters in through cracks in the ceiling, illuminating an impressive statue of a lion standing stoically in front of the only other exit from this room. He has armour covering his legs and a mighty sword planted tip-down between his paws. The sclupture's detail is truly impressive. You can even see the faint textural change of heavy scars crisscrossing his bare chest. In fact, you could swear you see-

You could swear the statue is breathing.

That's no ordinary statue, is it?