Title loss? Hero needs to change pattern (13)
I believe the answer is:
tortoiseshell
'pattern' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'title loss? hero needs to change' is the wordplay.
'needs to change' indicates anagramming the letters.
'title'+'loss'+'hero'='titlelosshero'
'titlelosshero' is an anagram of 'TORTOISESHELL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tortoiseshell that I've seen before include "Domestic cat - or little shoes (anag)" , "Ornamental material" , "Domestic cat mottled in brownish-yellow and black" , "The case of the slow-moving" , "Mottled plated ornamental substance" .)