Ben is a dog who lives with his rescue parents, Harold and Gladys, in a neighborhood surrounded by a ponderosa pine forest. He loves to sniff and explore and often becomes so distracted on hikes that he falls far behind and must be whistled back. But Ben's greatest joy is chasing squirrels.

Albert is a gray squirrel who lives in the forest behind Harold and Gladys's house. He has gray tufted ears, a white tummy, and a long, twitchy tail he uses to taunt Ben. One evening, Albert teases Ben into a run through the forest. But when the game of chase is done, Ben discovers he is lost and alone in the woods, farther from home than he has ever been. How can he find his way back home to his family? Maybe Albert will be able to help him.