Looking for a young adult sci fi-fi book I read in my teens. Probably written in the 80s. First of a series.
There were 3 or 4 teens who were the main characters, I believe. One was a muscular boy that looked fat. He uses a krisskris blade knife. There were large cat predators on the planet. I think the protagonist befriends one of the cats who becomes his companion. Would love to find these books!