Likened, Pretended

What am I?
I have likened myself to
    A bird with a broken wing
    A paper bag that was once a tree
    A tree itself
    A small child's kite
    A phoenix raising from a wildfire
    An artist in her own little castle

What am I?
I have pretended to be
    A con artist who has died
    A lady gunslinger with a price on my head
    A Herald with a snowy companion
    A companion itself
    A spy in a tight situation
    A person with a life