Shale is a rabbit from the Darkhaven Warren who appears in Season 3 of the TV series. He is a minor antagonist, and together with Feldspar, he serves as a minion first to Granite and then to General Woundwort.
Personality
Shale is a tough warrior rabbit who is quick to resort to violence. He seems to be friends with Feldspar and is usually seen with him. He also is shown to believe in the Dark One prophecy, since he immediately decides to serve Woundwort. As he is a minor character, little is known about his personality, but he seems to be rather spiteful due to often threatening Campion after losing to him in a fight. Shale is one of the biggest rabbits in Darkhaven, but he is shown to be overpowered by Campion and later General Woundwort.
Appearances
The Dark Deal
Shale is part of the group (the others being Spartina, Granite, and Feldspar) of Darkhaven rabbits who first meet Campion. He taunts Campion, who quickly defeats him before being restrained by both Granite and Feldspar. Shale then tries to kill Campion, but Spartina stops him, instead suggesting they bring him to the battle pit. When they bring Campion to Darkhaven, Shale tries to intimidate him by saying he "won't leave Darkhaven alive."
When Campion defeats Granite in battle and takes the rank of chief, Shale is furious about being ruled by an outsider. He and Feldspar make as if to attack Campion, but Spartina reminds them that Campion's win was justified by Darkhaven law, and that the rule of the battle pit is to fight one on one. Campion suggests fighting them both one by one, but they both decline and Shale threatens to attack Campion when they're not in the battle pit.
Darkhaven
Shale is seen watching Granite challenge and fight Campion for the chieftainship, a fight which he loses again.
He accompanies Granite, Spartina, and Feldspar on a patrol, where they are ambushed and easily defeated by Woundwort. Woundwort is about to kill them when Spartina convinces him to spare them by pointing out they can be useful as minions.
Shale is present when Woundwort confronts Campion, and when Campion flees he is one of the few rabbits that chase him alongside Feldspar and Granite. Later Shale, Campion, Feldspar, and others from Darkhaven go on patrol, and they get into a fight with Bigwig, Hazel, and Fiver, who were out searching for Primrose and Blackberry.
The Eyes of Silverweed
He is briefly seen when Woundwort sends his warriors out to recapture Silverweed, though they are unsuccessful.
The Spy
Shale and Feldspar go with Vervain to arrest Blackberry for breaking Darkhaven law. He is seen with Vervain and Feldspar attempting to kill Blackberry, though Campion intervenes and attacks them. As Campion attacks Shale, Feldspar goes to help Shale in fighting Campion. After a few minutes of fighting, Campion pushes both Shale and Feldspar off of the machine and into the dirt. Eventually, Shale and an unnamed Darkhaven warrior pin down Campion, until Woundwort orders them to let him go.
The Betrayal
He is seen with Campion, Feldspar, and Granite as they spar with a horde of other Darkhaven warriors. He joins Woundwort, Vervain, Granite, and Feldspar to listen to Spartina's report. When Campion tries to run, Shale and Feldspar attack him.
The next day, Shale is one of several Darkhaven warriors escorting the prisoners (Blackberry, Spartina, and Campion) to their execution.
The Beginning of The End
Shale is seen in the crowd of rabbits during Woundwort's declaration of war and later is one of the Darkhaven rabbits to bring Blackberry, Spartina, and Campion to Woundwort. He is the one to call the alarm when Skree appears. Later, he is one of the few rabbits that chase off the weasel. When he realizes Campion is running with Blackberry and Spartina, he chases them with Woundwort to the ravine, but fails to capture them.
The Magic
Shale is one of the many rabbits with General Woundwort's army to attack Watership Down and is later seen in the crowd watching Bigwig fight General Woundwort. In the final battle, he is seen being attacked by a swarm of Darkling's bats. Shale is one of the many rabbits that is taken by the Black Rabbit of Inlé.