This is the same perspective image we see when railroad tracks appear to meet at a single point in the far distance. Since thunder is caused by the rapid heating of the air during the passage of a lightning stroke, the path of thunder always follows that of the lightning. If lightning strikes very far away or vertically close to the observer, the times required for the sound to reach our ears from the extreme ends of the lightning path are similar, and the thunder sounds as if it comes from one area of the sky. However, if the bolt crosses the sky from side to side, or perhaps has a path that looks to us like an inverted letter L , the thunder reaches our ears from points along the path at distinctly different times. When the lightning is overhead and shoots across the sky, the thunder often sounds as if someone is ripping the fabric of the heavens above us.
Thunder can sound as if it is coming from a direction different than the lightning, however.
Thunder, like any sound, can echo off topographical features such as mountains or canyon walls, or off buildings. I once had the odd sensation in an urban street canyon of hearing thunder to my right even though I knew the lighting had struck to my left. The buildings on the left of the street muffled the direct sound wave to me. However, the sound reflected off the highrise to my right giving a louder clap than the direct wave. Well, they were pretty much at exactly the same altitude.