Shad was a male otter Gatekeeper of Redwall Abbey, and a good friend of Skipper. Shad enjoyed playing with little ones, especially Russano, Nutwing, Nutbeak, and Nutclaw; it was he who taught them their first intelligible word ("nut"). He was not fond of reading and studying.
Along with Abbess Tansy, Craklyn, Friar Butty, and Foremole Diggum, Shad ventured into the tower of Kotir that was revealed when the southwest Abbey wall began sinking. The group discovered the treasure of Verdauga Greeneyes, and had to traverse a swamp to eventually get out of the area underneath Mossflower Woods. Shad proved invaluable in the search, fighting off several invading toads and a large smoothsnake which was blocking the way out.