Thanks for the feedback! You're absolutely right about the tight real estate of 1000 words. There's no doubt my story is quite pulpy; I wanted to get some epic fantasy in there hence the series of fast moving scenes and variety of setting. The ending is absolutely abrupt and intentionally ambiguous. I think 1000 words is far too little space to have your character sitting around navel gazing, especially when there's such a tight limit to how well the reader can really get to know the characters.