An amazingly dynamic beginning. Disappearing trees, the smell. I followed the action easily. I see in the second part where you have a mythology developing, a reality with a complex background. This is likely where you ran into trouble with the word count. I believe I can see where you cut.
I think you do have two or three stories going here, not just one finish the story. Your imagination was captured and it took off. What a wonderful thing, to see so vividly what you want to write.
You did a good job tamping down creative ambition, but perhaps this was the wrong vehicle for such an evolved story. I found it very readable and interesting. I like especially that you didn't feel the need to save Noz and Sedar. Not all stories have happy endings, but it takes courage to kill off the protagonist. I admire that courage.
You are an interesting writer. Your greatest challenge I think (may I suggest this without seeming arrogant?) will be to structure your pieces and discipline your style to match the environment in which you find yourself.
Hope you don't mind an extended answer. Of course, I can be wrong, wrong, wrong. All I can do is off my well-intentioned opinion :)